Leyla A.

Hi everyone! My name is Leyla and I am from Temecula, California. I attended UCLA for undergrad and majored in Anthropology with a heavy focus on evolution and primatology. In my two gap years, I worked as a surgical medical assistant for a reconstructive plastic surgeon specializing in breast cancer reconstruction. That was an incredible experience that completely fortified my love of patient care.

I am interested in medicine for many reasons, including having been a patient for a long time myself (several unfortunate sports injuries), but I wasn't always sure I wanted to be a physician. Studying medical anthropology connected several of my academic interests including politics, evolution, sociology, and the sciences to create a more complete view of medical practice and my desire to understand people and their environments at a more fundamental level. This is a large reason I am so excited about the Fort Collins Branch's One Health concept!

Outside of academia, I love the outdoors, tennis, pickleball, yoga, going to the movies, seeing new places, and drinking matcha! I hope these next four years will be a great balance of learning and fun with everyone!

Rean S.

Hello everyone! My name is Rean, and I am over the moon to join the Fort Collins Branch of CUSOM. I am originally from Golden, CO, but I have been living in Fort Collins for the past six years, where I studied biochemistry at CSU and have since worked as a medical assistant in a cardiology clinic. I am honored to experience the incredible opportunities the branch campus offers, including living in beautiful Fort Collins with a tight-knit cohort and participating in the One Health curriculum.

Living at the foot of the Rockies with a small class allows me to pursue all of my passions outside of medicine, such as beekeeping, hiking, camping, skiing, cooking, running, archery, board games, woodworking, and more recently sewing. After spending my whole life in Colorado, I can say that, as invigorating as Aurora's traffic can be, Fort Collins' views of the Front Range and wonderful community have it beat.

My interest in beekeeping is what first drew me to the One Health curriculum at the branch campus. Having access to CSU's extensive veterinary and ecology resources to explore the intersection of environmental and human health is beyond exciting.

Ryan K.

My name is Ryan! I’m beyond excited to be back home in Colorado for med school at the Fort Collins Branch of CUSOM. I grew up in Centennial but spent four years in Boston, where I graduated from Tufts University with a degree in Chemistry. A big part of my college experience was competing on the varsity men’s rowing team, which kept me quite busy (and very familiar with early morning wakeups). Throughout college, much of my time was focused on exploring the connections between human, animal, and environmental health. The One Health perspective has been central in shaping my journey and how I plan to approach medicine—not just as a science, but as an interconnected system tied to the world around us. As our planet faces increasingly complex challenges across health domains, I believe integrating this holistic approach into human medicine is essential. I’m eager to train in a program and environment recognized as a leader in One Health, which will equip me with the skills and knowledge needed to bring this perspective into my future practice as a physician. Outside of school, I love getting outdoors and have missed the Colorado blue skies and open spaces so much. Also, ever since I was little, I’ve been fascinated by animals and plants, so I’m thrilled to be in a community that values and prioritizes these interests.

Onyeka A.

John G. 

Hello! My name is John, and I am a first-year medical student at CUSOM at CSU. I was born and raised in Portola Valley, a small town nestled in the hills of California's Bay Area. Eager to explore, I spent a few high school summers guiding on horseback in Wyoming's spectacular Bighorn Mountains, where I fell head-over-heels for the Rockies. This brought me to Colorado for college, and I earned a ridiculously fun bachelor's in wildlife biology. Roaming the outdoors remains my favorite pastime; I find rich joy in trail-running, backpacking, cycling, skiing, birding....you name it! I have been blessed with three years of marriage to my radiant wife, Michelle, and I am honored beyond words to have a place among the class of 2028!

Sophie S.

My name is Sophie, and I feel incredibly grateful to be part of the Fort Collins Regional Medical Campus. I am originally from Texas, but most recently moved to Fort Collins from Bozeman, MT. Since joining, I have been blown away by the care and support of my peers, faculty, and the students in the years above us. I had no idea medical school could feel so much like a family! Outside of school, I love spending time in the mountains with my husband and poorly-behaved dog and finding new coffee shops around town! Within medicine, I am excited to explore rural healthcare - especially OBGYN and Peds. 

Katelyn B.

My name is Katelyn! I grew up in CO and I’m delighted to be a part of the class of 2027. I am especially excited to join the Fort Collins Regional Medical campus – we are a tight community. I love the unique opportunities to foster deep relationships with the faculty, classmates (and their awesome partners/kiddos), and older student classes! The Fort Collins Campus deeply values balance and well-being for their students, which motivates us to take care of ourselves and each other. Outside of classes (yes, there is time), I love to spend time outside hiking, kayaking, biking, swimming in Horsetooth, teaching and practicing yoga, and spending time with my sweet fiancé. Within medicine, I have deep passions for education, integrative medicine, mental health and systems-level change.

Derious O. 

My name is Derious, and I am proud to be a medical student at the Fort Collins Regional Medical Campus of CUSOM. It has been a long journey to get to this point, and I could not have done it without the help of my family and, most importantly, my fantastic wife, Lydia. I started this journey to help others and advocate for people who look like me in healthcare. Regardless of the specialty I choose, I want to be a physician who connects with my patients personally and delivers the highest quality care. I am confident CUSOM will prepare me to fill that role. In addition, I could meticulously list all the reasons I wanted to be at CUSOM Fort Collins, but the reality of it has far surpassed my expectations. I could not have asked for a more nourishing and supportive environment. Plus, being a part of the Fort Collins regional medical campus means I have the unique opportunity to intimately experience 11 other perspectives that I would not have gotten otherwise. We will grow, falter, fail, and achieve together. Ultimately, I know we will learn from each other that there is no one “right” way to succeed in medicine, but many. I am originally from Indiana, but in the months I have spent in Colorado, I have come to accept it as my new home. The natural beauty here could sustain me for a lifetime, and I enjoy exploring it with my wife and dogs. I cannot imagine a better place to take on the challenge of medical school. As I struggle to learn yet another pathway or challenging concept in class, I can look to the mountains and be reminded that although something may seem insurmountable, it has already been summited. I need only to keep moving forward and know I am supported; for that, I am so thankful.