Diversity

Every journey to medical school is unique, but few are as remarkable as that of Reggie Boateng. His story is a shining example of how the human spirit can triumph over adversity and the incredible power of perseverance. As a first-generation medical student in the United States, Boateng’s path has been marked by both incredible challenges and the determination to succeed.

KCU's College of Biosciences (COB) began modestly in 2005 with just 18 biomedical students enrolled. This year’s pinning ceremony—a rite of passage for members of the COB—honored more than 80 students.

Picture walking the sidelines of your favorite NFL team, not merely as a fan but as a member of the team. Jessica Nelson, a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan, and fourth-year medical student at KCU, is living proof that dedication and passion can pave the way for incredible opportunities. 

At KCU our mission, improving the well-being of the communities we serve, defines everything we do. Taking care of our communities begins with taking care of our students. For D’Angeleau Newsome, that meant taking unique steps to make his commencement experience special.

Medical school is hard enough, but KCU student Charlie Adams’s existence was on the line, so he took a day off from clinic rotations in Kansas City and drove three hours to the Missouri Capitol.

Dr. Georges C. Benjamin promotes dream to become the healthiest nation in one generation.

It’s been a year of firsts at Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine, which opened in Joplin in 2023, with 80 students in its first class. Three of those students are recipients of the Indian Health Service’s Health Professions scholarship. 

Shelby Davenport silently struggled with an undiagnosed vision condition until a Score 1 for Health screening changed everything.

You will often find first-generation KCU Student Doctor Cierra Hall wearing a sweatshirt that reads “Be the Light.” However, she is not the only one sporting the phrase across the Joplin Campus – many KCU students and faculty wear the unique design as well.

Students who want to pursue a career as both a physician and as a scientist will find a warm welcome at KCU. Just ask Mahan Hadjian. The third-year med student started working in the lab of Abdulbaki Agbas, PhD, MSc, professor of biosciences, as soon as he arrived at KCU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Despite many advances in medicine, septic shock remains a serious illness with a mortality rate exceeding 30 percent among patients who receive treatment and resulting in more than 200,000 deaths each year in the United States alone. However, an ongoing study conducted by KCU third-year medical student Takara Newsome-Cuby in collaboration with a research team from University of Missouri-Kansas City, shows much promise.

Tafadzwa Amani, fourth-year KCU osteopathic medical student, won best overall during the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine’s 25^th Annual Global Health Competition for her research entitled Epidemiology of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and Associated Factors in Rural Guatemala.