Email Maria to learn more about her pre-med path, research experience, health science classes, and more!

Get to know Maria:

Why did you choose Health Science at Mizzou?

I chose Mizzou because of all the opportunities to get involved – including multiple hospital systems within walking distance. I also wanted to choose a major that would teach me how to best serve and care for my future patients, and the College of Health Sciences stood out to me because of its emphasis on the human aspect of healthcare.

What has been your favorite part of being a CHS student?

One of my favorite parts of being a CHS student is that my classes are full of peers going into various career paths, often quite different than my own. Healthcare is truly a team effort, and being in classes with future colleagues interested in different professions has been very collaborative and feels like we are all on the same team.

Tell us more about how you’ve gotten hands-on experience!

One of the most meaningful ways I’ve gained hands-on experience at Mizzou has been through research. I’ve loved being involved since the first day I arrived, but my favorite project by far was writing my first research paper. With the support of several incredible professors and healthcare professionals, I helped lead a quality improvement initiative focused on reducing no-show rates at the Bone Health Clinic. Being part of a project that created real, measurable change was exciting, but becoming a published author as an undergraduate made it even more special. Opportunities like this are rare, and I’m incredibly grateful that Mizzou empowered me to be successful.