School of Health

Liberal arts education expands opportunities for future doctor

msk23@calvin.edu — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:34:48 +0000

Liberal arts education expands opportunities for future doctor msk23@calvin.edu Thu, 09/11/2025 - 07:34

Mike Liang came to Calvin with a clear goal: to prepare to become a doctor.

One year in, his goal hasn’t changed, but he says Calvin’s liberal arts education is giving him a broader perspective with direct value-adding benefits to his career path.

“Calvin’s approach to education is preparing me well. For example, my professors have recommended I step out of my comfort zone, which for me was science,” said Liang. “Both of my pre-med advisors encouraged me to try a communication class because as a doctor I’ll need to not only present evidence but also communicate with my patients well.”

Out of comfort, into opportunity

So Liang took a communication course in which he not only learned valuable skills, but he also wrote and delivered a speech which was nominated by his communication professor, Kathi Groenendyk, for the Norton Speaker’s Prize. Liang’s persuasive speech was on food waste, where he tried to persuade his audience to take tangible actions to reduce the amount of food waste at Calvin's dining hall. While the judging continues, Norton asked Liang for permission to include his speech video in their collection of exemplary presentations.

“Since I’ve been at Calvin, this has not happened in an oral rhetoric class,” said Groenendyk. “Most textbook publishers choose examples from much larger institutions. I believe this is a unique honor.”

“I never thought a chemistry student would have his speech included in a textbook. I didn’t see how those things fit together,” said Liang.

Equipped with skills that enhance any career path

What Liang is seeing is how the soft skills he’s learning through his liberal arts education directly applies to his field of study.

This past summer at the end of his internship at the Van Andel Institute in downtown Grand Rapids where he did cancer research, Liang had to give both an oral and poster presentation.

“I was able to use the skills I learned in Comm 101 to clearly outline what I was going to talk about in a way that communicated science in simple language for those who are not as familiar with my field,” said Liang. “I feel trained in how to talk to people well, to present clear and concisely, and that will help me in the future.”

Student preparation impresses industry professionals

The principal investigator for Liang’s research project was impressed both with his presentation and also how well he was prepared coming in.

“I took an accelerated general chemistry class at Calvin my first semester and that gave me a step ahead. And then I took analytical chemistry, which exposed me to a lot of different instruments and experimental methods that were relevant to my research at Van Andel,” said Liang. “Calvin’s Phage Research program through the biology department taught me valuable lab skills and cultivated my ability to come up with a hypothesis and to design experiments. All of these experiences prepared me well to land the internship.”

So too did Liang’s proximity to his professors.

Surrounded by a community that cares

“I received two recommendation letters for my internship from professors who I took both a lab and lecture with. So, they could speak to both my lab and scientific skills,” said Liang. “I’ve been blown away by how professors care about us and how they are willing to engage in 1-on-1 dialogue with you from everything from faith to science to whatever subject.”

Liang also found the Christ-centered community among his peers and professors to be particularly formative.

“The best thing about my experience so far has been living on the honors floor and the community that is here. I didn’t expect my floor to be this vibrant and this engaged with challenging topics. We have discussions late at night,” said Liang. “And I didn’t expect the professors to be this vibrant, engaging, enthusiastic about what they are teaching.”

“The communities I found at Calvin exceeded my expectations. Being at a Christian college is so important because you have such in depth faith dialogues with your roommates, floormates, and profs,” said Liang. “Students with such busy lives sit down and have meals together and talk about Jesus.”

Thu, 09/11/2025 - 12:00

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Beyond the Classroom: On Set of The Chosen

msk23@calvin.edu — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:49:39 +0000

Beyond the Classroom: On Set of The Chosen msk23@calvin.edu Wed, 08/27/2025 - 08:49

When summer hits, professors practice what they preach—leaning into areas of interest that oftentimes go beyond their immediate field of study.

This summer, Ashley Woldman, a lecturer in the nursing department at Calvin, had the opportunity to serve as a background extra on The Chosen—a film series about the life and ministry of Jesus while on Earth.

“I road tripped down to Texas (where the filming took place) in August to film for three days. While I can't share everything that I took part on during filming (due to spoilers), I can share that the majority of my filming involved the sentencing of Jesus to die on the cross,” said Woldman.

How did this opportunity come about?

I have been a loyal fan of The Chosen for a few years now, and I'm part of various email and text notifications from The Chosen. Earlier this spring, a message was sent out that the team needed background extras for season 6, which is mainly centered around Jesus' death. I followed all the appropriate steps to sign up as a background extra, and a few days after signing up, I was notified that I was officially accepted.

What was your favorite aspect of the experience?

My favorite aspect of the experience was being surrounded by so many loyal and enthusiastic Christ followers. It was humbling to hear their stories of faith and see how joyful they were about their opportunity to help spread the gospel in a very unique way.

How did you develop this interest outside of Calvin?

I initially heard about The Chosen through a woman from my small group at church. After I started watching the first season, I fell in love. I love The Chosen because it truly makes the gospel come to life in a way that can really foster great understanding and relatability. It's a form of spiritual self-care for me, as I find a lot of comfort and peace from watching it.

Any way to apply what you learned during your summer adventures to your work with students at Calvin?

I have used clips from The Chosen in many of my classroom teachings. With being in the nursing field, I particularly gravitate towards one part of The Chosen that talks about pain and suffering. This part goes into detail on how people can view their suffering as part of God's plan and as purposeful in their lives. It really allows students to see how there can be hope in suffering.

Wed, 08/27/2025 - 12:00

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Summer Faculty Adventures: Exploring Passions Beyond the Classroom

msk23@calvin.edu — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:42:08 +0000

Summer Faculty Adventures: Exploring Passions Beyond the Classroom msk23@calvin.edu Wed, 08/27/2025 - 08:42

When summer hits, professors practice what they preach—leaning into areas of interest that oftentimes go beyond their immediate field of study.

This summer, a French professor put his photography on wide display, the director of student success traversed El Cap in Yosemite in one day, and a nursing lecturer was on set of a groundbreaking TV series. As they head back to campus and the classroom for the fall semester, we asked them to recap their summer adventures.

Kyle Heys – Epic Climb on El Capitan

Ashley Woldman – On Set of The Chosen

Otto Selles – Picture-Perfect Summer

Wed, 08/27/2025 - 12:00

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Q&A with Entrada grad Rayn Rutley

msk23@calvin.edu — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:50:23 +0000

Q&A with Entrada grad Rayn Rutley msk23@calvin.edu Thu, 07/31/2025 - 15:50

Rayn Rutley ’29 is from Fenton, Michigan. When she was a senior in high school, ��Ƶ came on her radar. As she started to dive deeper into her college search, she discovered a sense of community at Calvin and got the sense that the university cared holistically for its students.

So, this summer, she decided to get a taste of the college experience through the Entrada Scholars Program. Not used to being away from home, she wanted to move out of her comfort zone. Her lived experience at Calvin over the past month confirmed that her decision to attend this fall was the right one.

How has your view of college changed since attending Entrada?

I feel like through Entrada it’s taught me the value of having self-discipline, especially with time management and knowing where you should prioritize certain activities vs. yourself. It’s also helped me get a feel for what college is actually going to be like.

What is your greatest takeaway from this experience?

I would say my greatest takeaway was the friends that I made and also the memories I got to create with other people. I also learned how to socialize and put myself out there with people I’m not as comfortable with or know as well.

Because of Entrada, I feel more confident in …

Socializing with other people, I also feel more confident in my work ethic and what I need to do to be a good citizen in society and also just being more confident in my foundation in Christ.

How have you grown in your relationship with Christ?

My faith is a big aspect of my life and so I wanted to be able to know that going on into college that God would still be the center of my life, even in my education. And receiving an education with that lens would also help me to surrender my academics and how I do in school to God. I have definitely seen the sense of community that I was looking for here. I think people push you to be better and hold you to a standard of being a Christian and what that actually means and challenge you to know that for yourself.

How would you have felt had you not had this experience before college?

I feel like I would have felt very unprepared, and I would have a lack of understanding of what it means to be independent and to balance your social, academic, and athletic life.

Thu, 07/31/2025 - 12:00

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Q&A with Entrada grad Landon Dykema

msk23@calvin.edu — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:45:17 +0000

Q&A with Entrada grad Landon Dykema msk23@calvin.edu Thu, 07/31/2025 - 15:45

Landon Dykema ’29 is from Hudsonville, Michigan. His dad went to Calvin. His mom went to Hope. Making his college decision process even more complicated is that in his words “both schools have fantastic pre-med programs.” So, he had a tough decision. So, he visited both schools.

And the visit made all the difference. “When I visited Hope, the scenery was nice, but I didn’t feel that family aspect that I did at Calvin.”

This summer, Dykema jumped into the college experience through the Entrada Scholars Program—earning college credits and a renewable $4,000 scholarship in the process.

What is your greatest takeaway from this experience?

I came into this just looking forward to money [scholarship] and class credit, but I made friendships and relationships that I’ll have for the rest of my life. And I know going into this school year I don’t have to be worried about who I’m going to meet. Yes, I’ll meet new people, but I’ll have friends to go to in my first week of school as a rock, and I also grew a lot in my faith throughout Entrada and I’m reading my Bible a lot more, because there’s a drive, everyone here cares so deeply that it makes you want to feel that same feeling. God has really spoken to me through everyone here.

Because of Entrada, I feel more confident in …

My ability to spread joy. I think through both meeting new people and learning more about Jesus Christ I saw that there’s a lot of love that goes around and especially in different cultures. Learning about different cultures allows you to grow and kind of express your willingness to learn new things, and I think that joy comes with that because it brings joy spending time with people. Humans like to communicate, we like to spend time with others, and I’ve done a lot of that during my time in Entrada and that’s brought me a lot of joy and I’m better capable of spreading joy to other people now.

How would you have felt had you not had this experience before college?

I would have been terrified because I was already nervous going into Entrada and that’s just a month, so I can’t imagine thinking about a whole year where I’d be jumping right into the deep end. But now I’ve gotten this gradual increase into college where I know what the campus looks like, I know a lot of people, I know kind of how the coursework lines up and different tests, exams, so I feel much more prepared and ready for college now and I’m not anxious or stressed because I’ve learned God will provide and He will straighten my paths even if I’m worried. I’m definitely more confident now.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I think definitely a lot of people, including myself, were kind of wanting it just to be over early on, and as time went by it started moving too quickly. Hold on, hold on, I don’t want to leave yet. It was kind of switch over. I was open to meeting new people, open to new activities. In beginning, I wanted to get home to my family, to my girlfriend, now it’s like ‘wow, this is already over?’ Just take advantage of all the opportunities you get for whole group activities, individual with other people study times, those are times where you grow with people. And if you are just secluding yourself, you won’t get that sense of family that Entrada is.

Thu, 07/31/2025 - 12:00

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Calvin awarded $488K to connect virtue formation and community-engaged learning

msk23@calvin.edu — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:35:00 +0000

Calvin awarded $488K to connect virtue formation and community-engaged learning msk23@calvin.edu Fri, 07/11/2025 - 07:35

Ask Calvin graduates about their education and one word seems synonymous: formative. If you look at the institution’s foundational documents, it’s not hard to figure out why. From the Expanded Statement of Mission to the Educational Framework, Calvin is clear about how it is intentionally preparing learners.

“When we talk about education, we are talking about forming the whole person,” said Noah Toly, provost. “If we stop with what we know or what we can do—it doesn’t matter what anyone’s job is after that or how much they earn, if we stop at that metric, we’ve failed. The education we offer is about who we are.”

Awarded a prestigious grant

On July 11, 2025, the Educating Character Initiative at the Program for Leadership and Character awarded ��Ƶ an ECI Institutional Impact Grant in the amount of $488,000 for its proposal: Forming Virtue through Community-Engaged Learning: A Proposal for Educating Character at ��Ƶ. This three-year project provides Calvin the opportunity to take what’s deeply rooted in its ethos of virtue formation and connect it more intentionally to strengthen both longstanding and emerging programs.

“Through scholarship, curricular and co-curricular experiences, and commitment to fostering relationships, Calvin has been a leader in the thought and practice of character and virtue formation in Christian higher education,” said Kevin den Dulk, associate provost. “This grant now facilitates a more intentional approach to connecting the dots between what we teach and write about and what we do in practice.”

Working toward desired outcomes

According to the proposal, the primary aims of the grant are two-fold: first, to build a critical mass of Calvin faculty and staff with competence in a community-engaged approach to character education; and second, to engage various interested publics—both in the community and across academic networks—in opportunities for mutual learning about the approach.

How this will happen is through funding faculty and staff learning, developing courses and co-curricular opportunities, providing faculty time to reflect on and disseminate their work in ways they haven’t been able to do in the past, and nurturing community partnerships.

Strengthening longstanding and emerging partnerships

The Plaster Creek Stewards was officially started in 2008.

A few of the exemplars of a community-engaged approach that will be focused on are community nursing, Calvin’s most mature area for community-engaged learning; sustainability efforts through Plaster Creek Stewards, another long-standing initiative that encompasses multiple disciplines and perspectives; and, most recently, the Wayfinder program, an undergraduate experience for barrier-facing adult learners who explore concepts of calling and civic life through the study of the humanities.

“By connecting community-engaged learning with character formation, this grant helps us to enhance each and make that good work legible to the rest of the world,” said Toly. “We are also looking forward to learning with and from our community partners, to co-creating opportunities for character education, and to joining the broader conversation that the ECI network will bring together.”

The inaugural Wayfinder cohort stands with professors and administrators of the program following their graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Learning and sharing

Beginning in August 2025, the grant’s focus will be on building institutional capacity through establishing learning opportunities and an Office of Community Partnerships. In 2026, the aim is to provide more opportunities for faculty and staff to begin workshopping ideas for community-engaged learning.

Both Toly and den Dulk also emphasize that while there will be a lot of learning happening on campus and alongside community partners, this grant also has a focus on providing Calvin faculty and staff the space to disseminate best practices in virtue formation more broadly.

“We have an opportunity through this grant to give Mary Doornbos and Gail Zandee time to write and engage with the broader publics around the work they’ve been doing all these years in the community nursing program,” said den Dulk. “We’ve been doing this work for a long time, but it’s been hidden under a bushel.”

Fri, 07/11/2025 - 12:00

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Esther Afolabi Selected to be Inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing

msk23@calvin.edu — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:40:48 +0000

Esther Afolabi Selected to be Inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing msk23@calvin.edu Tue, 07/08/2025 - 08:40

��Ƶ is pleased to announce that Esther Afolabi, PhD, RN, has been selected to become a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (Academy). Esther Afolabi is an associate professor at ��Ƶ. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within and outside the profession. Fellows are selected based on their significant contributions and impact to advance the public’s health.

The Academy is a policy organization and an honorific society that recognizes nursing's most accomplished leaders in policy, research, practice, administration, and academia. Academy Fellows hold a wide variety of influential roles in health care and collectively they contribute their thought leadership to develop sound policy that help to achieve the Academy’s vision of healthy lives for all people.

"I am deeply honored and humbled to be inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. This recognition affirms the importance of equity-driven research and community-engaged scholarship,” said Dr Afolabi. “I remain committed to advancing health outcomes for underserved women and families through research, advocacy, and faith-informed practice."

Globally recognized scholar

Dr. Afolabi is a globally recognized nurse scholar with a strong focus on community and public health, maternal-child health, and cancer prevention. Her work centers on developing culturally responsive interventions for underserved populations, including cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination, and reproductive health education. She has received prestigious fellowships from such as the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) and the African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship (ADDRF). Dr. Afolabi has also played key roles in international research collaborations and curriculum reform in both Nigeria and the United States.

"Dr. Afolabi’s selection as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing is both a remarkable personal achievement and a meaningful recognition of her global impact in community and maternal-child health,” said Adejoke Bolanle Ayoola, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, School of Health, ��Ƶ. “As a Fellow myself, I know the Academy seeks leaders who not only advance nursing science but also shape health policy and improve lives. Esther embodies that mission with excellence, humility, and deep compassion. We celebrate this milestone with her and give thanks for the ways her work reflects Calvin’s commitment to faith-informed service."

The newest Fellows, selected from a sizeable and competitive pool of applicants, represent 42 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 countries. Their unique expertise will soon bolster the collective impact of over 3,200 Academy Fellows.

Dr Afolabi and the 2025 inductees will be recognized for their substantial, sustained, and significant contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 16 – 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. And Induction Ceremony ceremony will take place on the evening of October 18. After the ceremony, the new inductees can use their FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) credential, the most prestigious recognition in nursing.

About the American Academy of Nursing

The American Academy of Nursing serves the public by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. With more than 3,200 Fellows, the Academy represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia.

Tue, 07/08/2025 - 12:00

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Master of Exercise Science leads to Physical Therapy Career

lbl3@calvin.edu — Tue, 13 May 2025 11:53:57 +0000

Master of Exercise Science leads to Physical Therapy Career lbl3@calvin.edu Tue, 05/13/2025 - 07:53

It's not often that students earn graduate credit for teaching someone how to slackline, but in the Master of Exercise Science Program at Calvin, Brandon VanOphem did just that.

"My most memorable project was for Dr. Kerrie Berends' class, Motor Learning, where I taught my significant other how to slackline. It was a fun way to apply what I was learning in class. This experience reinforced the key concepts of motor learning and boosted my confidence in applying principles effectively in real-life situations."

In Calvin's Master of Exercise Science program, students gain hands-on experience through practical projects and an externship. As Brandon shared, "The combination of coursework and the hands-on project—where we were tasked with teaching someone a new skill—was an incredibly effective way to understand the principles of motor learning."

Brandon completed his undergraduate degree with the goal of continuing his education to become a physical therapist. Calvin's Master of Science in Exercise Science program bolstered his application to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs and provided him with a solid foundation to approach rehab with confidence and innovation.

Now a DPT student at Andrews University, VanOphem's interest in teaching led to an opportunity to serve as an adjunct professor. In this role, he helped build a collaborative relationship between the university’s athletics and physical therapy departments, attending games, teaching techniques like taping and injury prevention, and providing care to injured athletes at high-profile events such as the Newmyer Classic basketball tournament and AcroFest gymnastics events.

His experience has been rich. "I also tutored students in the two classes and completed all six Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) courses through ASPIRE and plan to sit for the certification exam. Most humbling of all, I was honored to receive the 2024 APTA Michigan Outstanding Student of the Year award—a recognition that reflects the hard work, passion, and commitment this program has helped cultivate in me."

Brandon chose the Master of Exercise Program at Calvin to broaden his understanding and deepen his expertise related to movement and health. "This program not only helped me gain admission into PT school but also significantly enhanced my knowledge of exercise programming and creativity. It equipped me with the skills to design effective and engaging rehabilitation routines, making them both enjoyable and easier for patients to follow."

Offered fully online, Calvin's Master of Exercise Program is accessible to students from anywhere in the world. "My experience in the program was nothing short of exceptional. Despite the online format, I consistently felt supported by both the faculty and my peers. The sense of community and collaboration made a significant impact, allowing all of us to thrive and succeed together throughout the program."

Learn more at calvin.edu/majors-programs/ms-exercise-science and contact program direct Dr. Kerrie Berends with questions, kerrie.berends@calvin.edu.

Tue, 05/13/2025 - 12:00

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A Path to Speech Therapy

lbl3@calvin.edu — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:17:09 +0000

A Path to Speech Therapy lbl3@calvin.edu Wed, 04/30/2025 - 12:17

When Samantha Vasquez graduated from college, she had a degree in Philosophy and was planning on law school. However, serendipity landed her in the field of remedial literacy intervention, where she worked for five years, developing a passion for the language aspects of literacy. Working collaboratively with speech pathologists and observing their interdisciplinary practice helped her decide that speech pathology was the right career for her.

When COVID-19 hit, her path shifted. With a child in kindergarten, Samantha opted to stay home to facilitate her daughter's schooling. And soon after, she gave birth to a son, adding to her family.

Returning to School

As life got back to normal, Vasquez decided to return to school to pursue speech pathology, where she could grow her skills and increase her scope of practice. Samantha discovered Calvin's Certificate in Speech and Hearing Foundations (CSHF) program, which provided the six undergraduate courses she needed to apply for a master's degree in speech pathology. With coursework online, the program fit into her busy life.

Transitioning to the Master's Program

After completing the CSHF, Samantha was accepted into Calvin's Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology.

As for the transition into the master's program, Samantha shared, "It has been seamless. The familiarity with the professors, knowing the rigor of the programs, and how well I was prepared for graduate coursework all contributed."

Samantha is thriving in master's program. "My experience has been amazing! The care and consideration poured into the courses to include up-to-date evidence-based practice, neurodiversity affirming and whole-person care, and the overall rigor of the programs has thoroughly prepared me to begin my externships. I feel confident in my clinical skills and have felt well-supported throughout the entire program. Every instructor truly wants us to succeed."

She is also benefiting from close mentorship through an assistantship with Dr. Brian Kreisman. "I have been working with Dr. Brian since I was in the certificate program when I was taking his courses in audiology and aural rehabilitation. I did a project for aural rehabilitation that we took to MSHA in 2024 as a poster presentation. After, I applied to be his graduate assistant when I was admitted to the master’s program. Now we are working together on a couple of research projects, he is my advisor for my master’s thesis, and I assist with grading and providing feedback to his students in the certificate courses."

Balancing School with Life Commitments

With a husband and two young children, Samantha has a lot to balance. How does she do it? "I treat school as my full-time job; I have set hours that I view myself as on the clock and off the clock. Working from home forces me to separate the two intentionally. My children are my number one priority, so I appreciate the flexibility that being a distance education student allows."

Inspiring the Next Generation

While it's not easy to manage school and family life, Samantha knows that her kids will benefit from watching her work. "I aim to set a good example as a role model for my children to balance work and life, but I also really enjoy the work I am doing. They see that I am passionate about learning and achieving my goals, and that I am in school to help people."

Study Speech Pathology at Calvin

While many undergraduate students start in a speech pathology program as freshmen, other adults come to the career later in life. Calvin's online Certificate in Speech and Hearing Foundations is designed to prepare those with a bachelor's degree in another field to be ready to apply for graduate programs in speech-language pathology.

Calvin offers our own Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology with two modes - on-campus and online. Students who successfully complete the CSHF program are guaranteed admittance to Calvin's distance education master's program.

Wed, 04/30/2025 - 12:00

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Calvin pre-health grads in demand, acceptance rates significantly higher than national average

msk23@calvin.edu — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:38:36 +0000

Calvin pre-health grads in demand, acceptance rates significantly higher than national average msk23@calvin.edu Fri, 04/25/2025 - 16:38

Calvin pre-health graduates are in demand. The statistics don’t lie. In 2025, Calvin grads registered an impressive 88% acceptance rate into med school and 62% into PA school, both significantly higher than the national averages of 41% and 31% respectively. Grads heading to PT school saw similar success with an 87.5% acceptance rate, while 100% of applicants to dental, optometry, occupational therapy, and pharmacy schools were accepted.

“This is a phenomenal cohort of students,” said Tammy LaRue, director of pre-health advising at ��Ƶ. “These numbers are nearly unheard of.”

While this cohort’s acceptance rates are higher than most years, LaRue says Calvin consistently trends much higher than the national average across these categories.

Standing out with soft skills

And it’s clear to her why that’s the case. While she says grads score well on the MCAT and have the necessary clinical and research experience to compete in the application process, what puts them over the top are the soft skills.

“We strongly encourage students through advising, through their capstone courses, through all avenues to think deeply about what they are doing and how to articulate that well,” said LaRue. “These critical thinking and communication skills set them apart when they are side-by-side with students from other institutions who have met the checklist of admissions requirements as well.”

Proven value of the liberal arts

Students who are heading off to grad schools this fall credit their cross-disciplinary education as one of the keys to their preparation.

“Calvin’s liberal arts education has equipped me to engage in thoughtful conversations on a range of topics beyond medicine,” said Claire Cassiday, a senior studying biochemistry who is attending GVSU’s PA program this coming fall. “This academic challenge has given me the confidence I need as I enter into PA school and learn about other complex subjects.”

“My experience at Calvin not only prepared me to collaborate effectively with others within my own area of study, but it also equipped me with the skills to engage in meaningful collaboration with individuals from diverse academic backgrounds—which is an increasingly vital competency for working in any healthcare setting,” said Erin Cawley, a senior on the pre-physical therapy track studying psychology, who is heading to the University of Colorado this fall.

Personalized education leads to stronger network

Grads also clearly point to the individualized attention and mentorship they received as being crucial to both their character formation and to their acceptance into grad school.

“The small class sizes and approachable professors made it easy to ask questions, seek help, and build relationships. That kind of environment gave me confidence to be curious and ask questions when I was confused on a topic, a mindset I’ll carry into PA school,” said Cassiday. “Through one-on-one conversations, I received advice and mentorship that went beyond academics. Those personal connections also led to strong letters of recommendation from professors who truly knew me and my goals, something that I believe helped me get into PA school.”

“Calvin having small class sizes has enabled me to have close relationships with my professors and I still stay in touch with professors from my first year at Calvin,” said Daniel John, who’s graduating this May with degrees in biology, chemistry, and mechanical engineering and attending the University of Michigan Medical School in 2025. “As I applied to medical school, Dr. LaRue and Professor Sinniah were especially helpful in crafting my application and gave valuable feedback as I wrote my essays.”

“I was able to receive personal research mentorship from three different professors across three different departments and fields of study,” said Cawley. “Each of my professors I worked under invested in me—they got to know my life story, the unique experiences and perspectives that have come to shape my vocational pursuits. They intimately knew my story and actively shaped it as well.”

This fall, 56 students will be heading off to graduate schools in the health professions, from Boston University to Creighton, Case Western to University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Madison to Northwestern, to dozens of others.

Fri, 04/25/2025 - 12:00

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