Choosing a major is one of the biggest decisions a student will make. At the University of Missouri-Kansas City, biology and chemistry degrees are popular choices for students planning to pursue graduate professional health programs. These degrees offer rigorous academic training and hands‑on experiences that go far beyond just fulfilling prerequisite coursework.

Medicine

Kylie Cushing (B.S., B.A. ’23) pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in chemistry while also earning a Bachelor of Arts in French through º£½ÇÂÛ̳’s study abroad program. She chose º£½ÇÂÛ̳ for her undergraduate education because she wanted the “best of both worlds”: the opportunity to compete as a Division I soccer player while receiving a top-tier STEM education.

“º£½ÇÂÛ̳ was the perfect fit because the coaching staff truly value academics; they gave me the flexibility to chase my medical dreams while competing at a high level, which is a rare find in collegiate sports,” Cushing said. “The culture of mentorship at º£½ÇÂÛ̳ is also unmatched. The professors aren't just passionate about their research, they were also invested in our success. Even though the coursework was difficult, º£½ÇÂÛ̳ resources such as Supplemental Instruction and student-led workshops create a collaborative environment for students to learn from each other.”

 Cushing’s interest in medicine solidified during her undergraduate years at º£½ÇÂÛ̳ through two very different but equally formative experiences in both the lab and the clinic.

 In Ryan Mohan, Ph.D.’s laboratory, she researched neurodegeneration and gained a deeper appreciation for the science behind disease. At the same time, she worked as an emergency room scribe during the COVID‑19 pandemic, witnessing patient care firsthand during a global health crisis.

 “Those two experiences in the lab and the clinic showed me both the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of medicine,” Cushing said. “Together, they made it clear that medicine was the path I wanted to take.”

Cushing is now in her first year of medical school at the º£½ÇÂÛ̳ School of Medicine, and credits º£½ÇÂÛ̳ with more than just academic preparation.

“º£½ÇÂÛ̳’s core curriculum focus on critical thinking and understanding various perspectives was invaluable,” Cushing said. “Anyone can become a doctor, but a great doctor is one who can create a safe space for any patient to open up. º£½ÇÂÛ̳ gave me the cultural competence to understand and advocate for my community and that perspective will shape the kind of physician I become.”

Dentistry

For Chamberlain Brownsberger (B.S., B.A. ’25), his interest in dentistry started in elementary school after he had undergone dental work. The experience left a lasting impression and inspired him to one day help others regain their confidence and health.

He pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry because the coursework aligned directly with dental school requirements. He also graduated with a minor in film studies.

“º£½ÇÂÛ̳ was the natural choice for me to pursue my undergraduate degrees because of the º£½ÇÂÛ̳ Dental Reserved Admission Program, which provides a structured pathway into º£½ÇÂÛ̳ School of Dentistry,” Brownsberger said.

He quickly became involved in the biology and chemistry programs, serving in more than 20 undergraduate teaching assistant roles across general chemistry, organic chemistry and biology courses. He was also involved in the pre-dental and biological science societies. Those experiences were instrumental in preparing him for dental school.

“Teaching forced me to truly understand the material,” Brownsberger said. “I relied on those same building blocks during my early dental school exams. Also, pursuing chemistry and biology degrees rewired how I approach problem‑solving. They taught me how to slow down, think critically and work through complex situations.”

Beyond academics, Brownsberger valued the opportunities to explore interests outside of science at º£½ÇÂÛ̳.

“One of the biggest benefits of attending º£½ÇÂÛ̳ was being able to gain more of an appreciation for the life in Kansas City,” Brownsberger said. “The courses I took for my minor in film studies allowed me to interact with the local communities to understand my surroundings and the people within it. For example, I created a documentary with a graduate from Kansas City Art Institute to uncover his methods in creating all the Worlds of Fun Haunt Vehicles.”

Brownsberger is now in his first year of dental school at the º£½ÇÂÛ̳ School of Dentistry, continuing the family legacy with his father and two brothers being alumni of the º£½ÇÂÛ̳ School of Dentistry. The relationships he built at º£½ÇÂÛ̳ have made all the difference in his career.

“The support from faculty, mentors and peers was tremendous and instrumental in my success,” he said. “º£½ÇÂÛ̳ gave me the tools and confidence to succeed in dental school.”

Physician Assistant

Manal Younes (B.S. ’23) began her undergraduate journey with a different goal in mind: pharmaceutical research.  She chose º£½ÇÂÛ̳ due to its close proximity to her home, smaller class sizes that allowed for more networking opportunities with faculty and the welcoming campus environment. She pursued dual Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry and biology, a path she says strengthened both her endurance and problem‑solving abilities.

“Biology and chemistry are very different disciplines,” Younes said. “Biology taught me how to absorb large amounts of information in a short amount of time while chemistry taught me how to think critically and navigate complex challenges.”

After completing laboratory work at º£½ÇÂÛ̳, she realized that she wanted a career with more direct patient interaction.

"I liked laboratory work, but it was not fulfilling in ways I thought it would be. I wanted more face-to-face interaction and to pursue medicine in a way that I could witness my work impacting others,” Younes said.

Encouraged by her sister who was in nursing school, Younes shadowed physician assistants working in interventional radiology. This exposure reshaped her career goals and led her toward physician assistant (PA) school.

During her time at º£½ÇÂÛ̳, Younes worked as a tutor for chemistry, math, Spanish and biology courses and also served as a tutoring coordinator for several years. These leadership roles helped bolster her professional school application and reinforced her commitment to collaboration and lifelong learning.

“These experiences helped strengthen my application by demonstrating my professionalism, leadership and ability to commit to responsibilities over time,” Younes said. “I think it also reflected my dedication to lifelong learning and my desire to work closely with peers to achieve better team outcomes while supporting students’ growth. I believe these same intrinsic values will translate well into clinical practice and guide how I support patients and collaborate with other clinicians.”

Younes is now a third year PA student at the º£½ÇÂÛ̳ School of Medicine. When asked if she had any advice for students considering a professional degree, Younes draws from her own personal experiences.

“I would encourage students to shadow as much as they can to gain a realistic understanding of their aspirations,” Younes said. “So many things are different in real life and aren’t always what they’re made out to be online, where narratives are often shaped by other people’s individual experiences. It’s also important to consider the lifestyle you want to have and to figure out what type of person do you want to be and which paths will allow you to become that person.”

Roo Advising’s Pre‑Professional Health and Law Program academic advisor Demari Johnson notes that biology and chemistry degrees provide students a strong and flexible foundation regardless of if they are certain about professional school or still exploring their options in healthcare, like Younes initially did.

“When students are deciding on a major, biology and chemistry come up often because of the transferable skills they provide,” Johnson said. “Students learn how to problem‑solve, analyze information and interpret data, skills valued across many professions. At º£½ÇÂÛ̳, students also gain early exposure to labs and research, which helps prepare them for the next stage of their career, regardless if it is professional school, graduate study or industry work.”

Whether preparing for medicine, dentistry, PA or any other professional healthcare degree, these students show that a biology or chemistry degree at º£½ÇÂÛ̳ can open doors and prepare students to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field.