The daughter of an Emergency Medicine pediatrician, Savannah Gowan, MD ’20, knew she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps since childhood.

Though she survived high school, Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) alumna Aprylle Thompson, MD, was not unscathed — she was shunned by white classmates and taunted with racial slurs meant to denigrate her Black heritage.

As regions across the United States started re-opening its doors to non-essential services, some residents misinterpreted the move as an indication that the rampant COVID-19 disease was lessening

When Samantha Vouyiouklis, MD '20, graduated from high school, she received an award for being the ‘student who knew what they wanted to be from their very first day of school.’ As her Biology teacher gave it to her, she said, “You’re going to be a doctor. I can see it in your eyes.” And on March 31, 2020, when Vouyiouklis received her MD from Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM), she did just that.

In one day, she witnesses moms separated from their newborns, children agonizing with the flip-flop of their world and parents who are mentally drained from the rampant news of COVID-19 and the senseless killings of black Americans by police.

They may not be in the direct path of contracting coronavirus but adolescents are plagued with other hard-hitting issues during this ever-changing time.

When Ryan P. Anderson, MD’ 19, began medical school at Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) in May of 2016, he had no idea what a milestone achievement his graduation four years later would create – both for himself, and his alma mater.

While no two international medical student’s journeys are alike, at some point along the way, each will wonder how the path before them will unfold, and ultimately, conclude. For one Ross University School of Medicine alumnus, the journey brought him right where he wanted to be – geographically, professionally, and personally.

A naturally curious person, Kedon Newton, MD ’19, decided to pursue medicine at an early age as a way to marry up his two greatest passions – science and public service

She’s half of a two-physician household on a medical mission to care for others.