Though many of Adriana's family members in Puerto Rico are in medicine, she only began to imagine herself in a health career after a professor inspired her to pursue it. Then, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico.

Peggy Nopoulos, MD, is a triple threat in the world of academic medicine as a clinician, researcher, and mentor.

Yumeng (“Yumi”) Engelking grew up in Chaozhou, a small city in southeast China. At the age of 11, she developed a disorder that caused significant hair loss. Though the illness wasn’t life threatening, it was detrimental to her self-image, and that experience has shaped the way she views specialty care in medicine.

Sierra Sheets’ interest in medicine began at a life-changing visit with her own medical provider when she was in high school. “She gave me a listening ear, not just about my physical checkup but truly listening to any problem I had going on. She supported me in a way I didn’t feel supported at the time,” Sheets says. “The first time you feel heard is a big moment."

Stephanie Meza is excited to learn about Iowa’s communities and how she can leverage her own experience to help Iowans. “The challenges I went through developed in me an ability to find a way out of no way," Meza says. “It’s given me the confidence and tenacity to solve problems that seem unsolvable.”

Azariel Coss likes taking things apart and putting them back together. He enjoys tinkering with electronics and recently built his first gaming computer from scratch. This fall, he’ll apply his analytical skills to medical school. “I always liked breaking stuff down, seeing how it worked—which probably wasn’t fun for my mom,” Coss says.

Hend Al-Kaylani isn’t the only member of her family experiencing a big milestone this fall. A triplet born at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Al-Kaylani is achieving her dreams alongside her brothers, who are studying law and business analytics. Her father was a neurology resident at Iowa when he and her mother found out they were expecting triplets.

Jacob Bliss joins the UI Carver College of Medicine's physician assistant program with the 2022 PA White Coat Ceremony.

Distinguished Alumnus John Cambier received his PhD from the University of Iowa Department of Microbiology in 1975, working in the lab of John Butler, PhD. He went on to have a distinguished career in research, service, teaching, and leadership.

Rodney Berry joins the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine physician assistant program in Fall 2022.