New student doctors talk about their journeys, choosing Campbell

October 26, 2026

The Class of 2030 White Coat Ceremony marked a rite of passage for first-year med students, as each member of the incoming class officially donned their coats in a ceremony Oct. 23. The medical school, which seated its first class in 2013, celebrated its 10th graduating class in July.

Each of the students who received their white coats, an annual rite of passage for student doctors entering medical school, had myriad reasons for pursuing the healthcare profession and for choosing Campbell University.

Some because they were drawn to osteopathic medicine, which seeks to treat and heal the mind, the body and the spirit. Others because they want to work in primary care, serving the underserved in rural communities. And others because they were drawn to the strong sense of care, compassion and community so prevalent at the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM).

Several students who took part in the recent white coat ceremony talked a little about why they chose to become osteopathic physicians, and about why they chose Campbell. Here are their stories:

Palak Nirav Desai

As a child, student Dr. Palak Nirav Desai looked forward to visiting her pediatrician. He asked Nirav Desai about various aspects of her life and, she says, "always sent me home with a handwritten note about what made me special."

Palak Nirav Desai

"Without realizing it, I learned that a good doctor treats the whole person, not just the problem in front of them. Since then, I've wanted to be someone who helps people feel better."

Time spent with families of newborns, whether in an ambulance, in surgeons' offices or in a rehab clinic, taught her, she says, not every visit ends in good news.

"But that kindness and clear explanations can steady a family on their hardest day," Desai says.

That belief, Desai says, is why she chose Campbell medical school.

"I grew up in North Carolina, and this state shaped me, so I wanted to train here and one day give back to the communities that raised me."

She, too, was also drawn to the philosophy of osteopathic medicine: treating the "whole person," - body, mind and spirit.

"It puts into words the kind of physician I have always wanted to be. My first months here have confirmed that I chose the right place. Our professors truly care about us as students and want to see us succeed, and everyone I've met has been kind and welcoming. CUSOM already feels like a community, and I'm grateful to be learning alongside people who share my values.

"The name stitched on my white coat is Palak Nirav Desai, and the middle name is my father's. Everything I have, and every door that has opened for me, exists because of what he gave up along the way. I'm honored to carry his name into this profession, and I promise to practice medicine in a way that makes his sacrifices worthwhile."

Madison Lawrence

Student Dr. Madison Lawrence says her original home is St. Louis. But she wanted to explore. To see new places. To meet new people and to grow. To learn.

Her journey took her to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Madison Lawrence

"I fell in love with the state and found a home away from home here, so once I graduated I knew it wasn't time for me to leave just yet," Lawrence says.

Campbell's Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program brought her to Lillington, where she has remained.

"By the time I finished, I had seen firsthand how much the faculty and staff care about their students and how badly they want them to succeed. That's why I chose CUSOM."

Faculty and staff, the way they get to know students - encouraging them, supporting them, caring about them - has so far defined her experience at Campbell.

"Security even greets us each morning, and they know when we have exams and wish us good luck," Lawrence says.

"My classmates push me to work harder, and I've never felt competition between us. Medical school definitely hasn't been easy, but I haven't been at it alone. I've spent hours with my classmates in study rooms preparing for the next quiz or exam. It truly feels like a community.

"The second-years have been just as generous, offering advice whenever we need it. I'm so glad I got to stay at Campbell a little longer, and I'm looking forward to earning my second hump."

Hali Hutchinson Long

Student Dr. Hali Hutchinson Long chose CUSOM, because, well, it felt like home.

She thinks about her first visit. Driving past bright green fields filled with crops. Passing a tractor as she pulled onto campus.

Hali Hutchinson Long

"I had a pleasant tour and was impressed with CUSOM's realistic patient exam rooms, cadaver lab and hospital simulation rooms," Hutchinson Long says.

"A few days after I left, I received a handwritten note thanking me for touring and that CUSOM would be looking forward to my application. I knew immediately that CUSOM was my top choice, and that handwritten note has been on the refrigerator ever since.

"I come from a small, rural community," she says. "I was riding on tractors and helping tend to the garden before I could hardly walk, though that milestone was delayed due to my being born with a club foot."

When Hutchinson Long was a child, her family drove her to clinics, sometimes as far as four counties away, so she could get the medical attention she needed. Those experiences left a lasting impression.

"Throughout my childhood I remember robust exposure to different aspects of healthcare due to this birth defect, and I always knew that I wanted to pursue medicine in some way."

She says her parents also were servants of their community; her dad in law enforcement and her mom an EMT - the first call everyone in the community made in an emergency.

But without a lot of guidance on how to realize her dream of becoming a physician, Hutchinson Long decided to first attend a technical college. Shortly after graduating high school, she landed a job as a medical assistant, all part of an effort to gain experience in healthcare and to learn about the myriad professional opportunities it offers.

"The physician I worked for, Dr. Joycelyn Schindler, believed in me and pushed me to consider applying to medical school" she says. "I remember only laughing at the idea initially and vividly remember saying, 'People like me don't become doctors.'

"If it wasn't for Dr. Schindler or my undergrad adviser Dr. (Lauren) Gellar, who I later met at the Medical University of South Carolina, where I earned my undergraduate degree and master's degree, I truly wouldn't have pursued this career."

Her journey may have taken a bit longer, taken a more circuitous route, she says, "but something happens every day that reminds me that I belong here and have worked for this exact moment. My white coat doesn't just represent me as the first physician in my family, it represents my community, and the people back home that have believed in me to get here."

CUSOM is where she is meant to be. She has no doubt about that.

"The only word to describe the community around CUSOM and within the medical school is 'home.' All of CUSOM's faculty are so supportive and approachable."

She recalls her second week of Block 1. Working hard to acclimate, to find her way. Still, she found the campus a bit intimidating. But she quickly found support, encouragement. Community.

"I remember I took the stairs alongside (Dean Dr. David Tolentino). Though he is the dean of the medical school, he was so kind to me and chatted with me to see if I needed anything from him, as if we'd known each other for years," Hutchinson Long says.

"CUSOM faculty and staff really are here to help us grow into the best future clinicians and humans that we can be. I am so excited and honored to represent this school."

Allison Strazzella

The journey into medicine for student Dr. Allison Strazzella began with her little sister, Meredith, who experienced medical difficulties throughout her childhood.

"I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the profound impact physicians had on her quality of life, restoring freedoms and allowing her experiences my family thought would never be possible for her," Strazzella says.

"This perspective shaped my understanding of the difference dedicated doctors can make in the lives of patients, and their families, inspiring me to pursue a career in medicine."

Allison Strazzella

Strazzella grew up in Arlington, Virginia, and attended Gettysburg College, where she was a member of the Women's Soccer Team. In college she volunteered at a local hospital, worked as a teaching assistant and served as a freshman mentor.

"After graduation, I worked as a research assistant at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, conducting military-relevant research on neurotropic viruses prevalent in locations where military personnel are commonly deployed. During that time, I also volunteered as a Girls on the Run coach and at the Northern Virginia Ronald McDonald House."

Strazzella is also a student in the U.S. Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program (USUHS).

"Through my time at USUHS and my loved ones currently in military service, I was exposed to the world of military medicine and the unique opportunities it offers." she said.

"My motivation to pursue this program came from demonstrations of selflessness, integrity, and comradery, resulting in my desire to join and serve a community that so strongly upholds these values."

As she toured Campbell's medical school as an applicant, Strazzella said, it became clear it was a place filled with people who care about the community it creates and the community of patients it serves.

"Posters and event reminders were filled with opportunities to volunteer for blood drives, mobile clinics and local organizations. Information for peer tutors, faculty-led advising sessions and academic support were advertised on all the walls," she says. "Every person I interacted with had a smile on their face and offered a warm hello; from peers laughing with each other to professors engaged in conversation with students, collaboration was everywhere.

"Looking back on that tour day as a current student, I can appreciate the importance those resources and values have in the impactful experience CUSOM provides.

Faculty at CUSOM are knowledgeable, welcoming and demonstrate a true investment in student success, she says.

"Our class has created such a supportive environment, in turn fostering so many new friendships that I'm extremely grateful for. I've learned that attending CUSOM truly means joining a community of people who care about each other and prioritize the betterment of healthcare in our surrounding area."

Loran Lott

Student Dr. Loran Lott, in his words, isn't a traditional medical school student. He's 34, married and has three children.

Before that he spent 15 years in the Army, and he plans to continue serving as a flight paramedic and a special operations medic.

He says he chose CUSOM for a couple reasons, which not only benefitted him but also his family.

Loran Lott

"First and foremost I love the people here; they really do care about their students and want to see everyone succeed," Lott says. "This is something I learned very early on as an undergraduate student at Campbell, and it continues to be true, resonating through the medical school, as well.

He also cited Campbell's proximity to Fort Bragg, where he finished his time on active duty.

"We have established ourselves here," he says "My wife has a great job with Duke Energy and is doing wonderful things there. I wanted to pick a place that we could all stay together and ensure she wouldn't have to let go of her career or start over somewhere new."

A Campbell University undergrad, Lott says his time at the university "has been nothing short of spectacular."

"The faculty and staff at both the undergrad and medical school campuses are very welcoming, friendly and helpful. Anytime I have had a problem it has been handled by the university in a very professional and expeditious way."

Lott gives a "shoutout" to his cohort.

"I think Campbell did a great job picking the right people to join our class," he says. "There are people from all over with varying levels of experience and knowledge. Everyone I have met from class thus far is very respectful and always willing to participate and learn.

"I think we have a very collaborative class, and that even extends to the second years; they were also very welcoming and willing to share all of their knowledge of what is to come. The amount of resource building and sharing is astronomical, and I don't think I have ever seen anything like it, which is saying something coming from someone who has spent his time on a lot of teams."

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