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Kirtland Chronicle
Friday, December 13, 2019
Three Kirtland Grads Get into Same Medical School By Donna L. Robinson news@kirtlandchronicle.com Three Kirtland High School alumni are well on their paths to becoming the future faces of medicine. Samantha Achauer, 22, (a 2015 KHS graduate), Sam Welborn, 25, (a 2013 KHS graduate) and Sydney Donohue, 23, (a 2014 KHS graduate) were recently accepted into the University of Toledo College of Medicine. They participated in a recent Q&A about their journeys thus far. Q: When did you develop an interest in seeking a career in medicine? Samantha: When I was in high school, so around 15 or 16 years old. Sam: I have always been interested in medicine since I was young. My parents put the idea in my head, but being naturally drawn to science definitely helped. Sydney: When I was little, my mom used to take us to visit my dad when he was on-call as an anesthesiologist and had to work overnight. We would always bring him a pizza and we would watch a movie or we would play on his computer; so essentially, I thought my dad just got to put people to sleep all day by reading stories and have his family bring him pizza and play games. Did not sound like a bad gig to me!
Q: Who, or what, was your inspiration to seek a career in medicine? Samantha: When I was in high school, I was completely unsure of what I wanted to do because I had a lot of varied interests. But then, I interviewed for summer employment with the Cleveland Clinic in their paid summer internship program. In this program, I completed an eightweek research project at the Clinic’s Medina Hospital, and a large part of my work was getting to talk to patients every day. Having these patient experiences really sold the idea of a career in medicine for me. So much so that I applied for another summer internship with the Clinic during the following summer. Sam: I have a number of inspirational figures in my life in regard to work, but I think that my inspiration in regard to science and medicine was David Machnicki, Kirtland’s previous high school biology/science teacher. Sydney: My parents, who both work in medicine, definitely inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. They both introduced me to science — which I immediately fell in love with — got me volunteering at Lake Health at an early age, and pushed me to perform well in all of my classes. I think what solidified my pre-medicine/biology major was one paragraph in my AP
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Left to right, students Sam Welborn, Samantha Achauer and Sydney Donohue, Kirtland High School graduates, pose proudly in their white doctor coats at the University of Toledo College of Medicine.
Biology book about apoptosis and cancer. The one paragraph influenced me to do research in pancreatic cancer at The Ohio State University and to volunteer on a hematology/oncologist floor at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Q: What undergrad school did you attend prior to being accepted into the University of Toledo College of Medicine? Samantha: I started at the University of Dayton in 2015 and graduated in 2019. I will alSee School • Page 7