Four alumni from the Newman University Class of 2010 were among eight fourth-year medical students at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita to receive scholarships to continue their studies in family medicine.
Joseph Baalmann, Issac Johnston, Amanda (Engels) Miller and her husband Kyle Miller each received separate family medicine scholarships at a ceremony Dec. 6 in Wichita, which was part of the medical school's 32nd Annual Family Medicine Winter Symposium. The scholarships, named for individual family physicians and endowed by them or family members in their honor, recognize fourth-year students who have an interest in family medicine, a strong academic record and evidence of service.
The four scholarship recipients are among the seven pre-med students in the Class of 2010 who were accepted into the KU School of Medicine. Others are Jeff Cotter, Phong Le and Barbara Nguyen.
"It's really cool to see how Newman graduates are not only getting into medical school, but doing really well," said Johnston.
"We couldn't be more proud of these fine young alumni, and we know that they will continue to excel as they begin to practice family medicine," said Newman President Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D.
"We have a lot of Newman graduates and they are just outstanding," said Rick Kellerman, M.D., professor and chairman of Family & Community Medicine-Wichita at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita. "Here in my time in Wichita we've seen a significant increase in the number of students from Newman, and we're very impressed. They're smart, they're well prepared for medical school, they work hard, and they're very nice people. You can look into the future and see that they will be excellent physicians - that these are the kind of docs we want in Kansas."
Johnston, Baalmann and the Millers plan to pursue their interest in family medicine after graduating in May 2014. The Millers plan to practice in a rural area of Kansas. The KU School of Medicine-Wichita places an emphasis on training family medicine doctors to serve in rural, underserved areas of the state. Johnston said Cotter also plans to practice family medicine. Le plans to practice otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), and Nguyen will most likely pursue general surgery.
Johnston added that Le, along with Kyle and Amanda Miller, have been particularly successful at medical school. In addition to other awards, the three have been accepted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Membership in the society, which recognizes and advocates for excellence in scholarship and the highest ideals in medicine, is one of the highest honors a medical student can receive. To be selected, students must be among the top students of their class academically, exhibit professionalism, leadership among their peers and a commitment to service in the school and the community, and be recommended by a faculty member.
