Maddie Westendorp '20Medicine (DO)

Name: Maddie Westendorp

Graduation Year: 2020

Majors: Biology & Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies

Story: I entered Gustavus in the Fall of 2016 with the intention of earning a biology degree
and studying pre-med with a plan to apply to medical school. In the first year of my
studies I had a schedule mishap and ended up a year behind the typical biology/pre-
med track that my classmates were on. This allowed me some unexpected room in
my freshman class schedule. I was intrigued by the Gender Women Studies (GWS) after this being a theme in my FTS class so I used the extra space in my schedule to 
explore this new area. I immediately fell in love with GWS and started supplementing 
schedule with these classes. I loved learning from the perspectives of both the
any extra space in my typical bio/phys/chem sciences and the humanities & social sciences.

By the end of sophomore year I had declared a biology and GWS double major. With
my wonky pre-med schedule, I did struggle a bit with losing my typical study
partners in my chemistry classes and physics was TOUGH, but I powered through.

Throughout college I worked on gaining experience. I reached out to healthcare
workers and did a lot of shadowing. I also became a certified nursing assistant and
worked at a skilled nursing facility, gaining patient care experience.

After graduation in the spring of 2020, my MCAT studying wavered and I ended up
not getting the score I wanted. However, I continued through the MD application
process pumping out tons of secondary applications. In the end, I did not get into
any MD schools during that first cycle.

In the summer of 2020, I also started as a medical scribe in various emergency
departments in the Twin Cities. I continued this job over the next four years adding
positions as lead scribe in the OBGYN and Addiction Medicine clinics. Here I really
gained a greater knowledge of medicine, patient care, and the healthcare system in
general. These positions really solidified my plans to attend medical school.
After my first disappointing application cycle I reevaluated and made a plan. The
next summer I retook a few classes through a post-bacc program and that fall
revamped my MCAT study plan.

In the spring of 2022 I was ready to reapply, I applied MD and DO and got more
interviews and was placed on a few waitlists! As the time ticked by, I sat waiting and
waiting. Nearing the end of the cycle in May of 2023 I had not heard back and I
applied to the UMN Master of Public Health program and in June I was accepted!
And of course, two days later I got an email from one of my top DO schools asking
for a late interview.

As that summer went by I continued to wait for a final answer from the medical
school and eventually was accepted! However, on a deferred application status to
start in the next year.

Since I was already excited for my MPH classes, I spent the
next year getting a head start on my MPH in Community Health Promotion and
gaining a perspective of health and healthcare from a nonmedical side of things.
As of Spring 2024, I have completed half of my MPH (plans in place to finish!) and I
am gearing up to start medical school at Des Moines University this August 2024! This is
not where I ever thought the journey would take me, but I am very grateful for the
bumpy path and I am excited to get started on the next steps!

Top Five Activities/Experiences: (in no particular order)
1. Working as a Medical Scribe in the emergency department and various
clinics through Emergency Care Consultants.
2. Gustavus Swim & Dive Team
3. Earning a non-science degree that I loved and broadened my knowledge
beyond the natural sciences, Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies (GWS).
4. Starting my Masters of Public Health in Community Health Promotion.
5. Living life for a few years outside of school/studying.

Advice:
1. Don’t be scared of a gap year (or four). I am very grateful for the experiences
I have had to explore non-academic parts of my life while also gaining
healthcare knowledge in real world settings in my time after graduation.

2. Reach out to your resources and don't be afraid to ask for help! The Gustavus Office of Health Professions helped me a lot during my application journey. I also found it very helpful reaching out to other applicants to discuss applications, studying methods, etc. as well as to my physician/PA coworkers to discuss their paths and advice. 

3. Do not forget your passions! It is important to remember to foster the things
you love outside of medicine. This could be a sport, art, cooking, etc. These
are important! Also remember to try new things!

Future Plans: Attending: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, starting Fall
2024.

I plan to complete my DO & MPH degrees and work as a physician in the
Minneapolis area! Looking into either Emergency or Family Medicine, but not sure
yet! I intend to use my MPH in some capacity as a physician, perhaps in some sort of
policy work.