On May 2nd, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine held its second commencement ceremony. It was an unforgettable morning as we watched our newest cohort of physicians cross the stage and begin their journeys into residency.

The ceremony was highlighted by an inspiring address from our guest of honor, Dr. Robert Cain, President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). Dr. Cain spoke to the graduates about the evolving future of osteopathic medicine and the profound impact they will have on their communities. He left the class with a powerful reminder of the I.A.T.P. philosophy: “It’s About The Patient.”

Graduate Spotlights

Among the graduating class, several students were recognized for their extraordinary resilience, balancing the rigors of medical school with significant personal and professional milestones:

Kailee Edwards

A proud Utahn through and through, Kailee Edwards grew up in Kaysville and earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Weber State University. When the time came to choose a medical school, Kailee knew one thing for certain: she wasn’t going anywhere. Family comes first, and with husband Jason and their son Hagen at home, she applied only to Utah schools.

Kailee was drawn to Noorda-COM’s unique academic model and had a deep interest in osteopathic medicine — she wanted to be a DO and incorporate OMM into her future practice. What makes her commitment all the more remarkable is the geography: Kailee commuted nearly 75 miles each way from Syracuse, spending an hour and forty minutes on the FrontRunner train — every single day — using every minute of that ride to study.

And she did all of this while raising a family. Kailee began medical school with a two-year-old at home and gave birth to her daughter Savvy just three weeks before her Level 1 board exams. Still, she found time to serve as a peer tutor, peer mentor, and Student Ambassador — supporting fellow students, welcoming prospective applicants on interview days, and even visiting legislators on Capitol Hill.

In her own words: “If I put my mind to something, nothing will stop me.” True to that spirit, Kailee will begin her Family Medicine residency this summer at Utah Healthcare Institute/St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City — staying close to the family and community she never wanted to leave.

Hunter Chamberlain

Hunter Chamberlain grew up in Reno, Nevada before heading to Brigham Young University, where he studied Exercise Science and minored in Spanish.

When his first round of medical school applications didn’t pan out, Hunter didn’t give up — he narrowed his focus, applied only to Noorda-COM, and never looked back. What followed was a medical school journey marked by extraordinary challenges met with extraordinary resilience.
Just before Hunter began his studies, his wife Tabitha — seven months pregnant — was rushed into emergency surgery for an enlarged ovary. Follow-up testing revealed Stage 3 ovarian cancer. Tabitha delivered their daughter early and completed six rounds of chemotherapy before Hunter’s first semester even began. Today, she is cancer free, and together they are raising their son Teagan and daughter Jamie.

The challenges didn’t stop there. During his second year and just before sitting for board exams, Hunter noticed his daughter Jamie was unusually thirsty — a symptom he recognized from his studies. A pediatrician visit confirmed Type 1 diabetes, and Jamie was admitted to Primary Children’s Hospital. Hunter rescheduled his boards and ultimately sat for his exams during a single week home between two military sub-internships in Washington, DC and Virginia.

Through it all, Hunter credits Noorda-COM’s faculty, staff, and fellow students as a community that carried his family when things were hardest.
This summer, Hunter will begin his medical internship at Naval Hospital San Diego, fulfilling a lifelong draw to military service — and honoring his great grandpa and the many members of his family who have served before him.

In Hunter’s own words, “The Navy’s values of leadership, honor, integrity and determination align well with principles that I try to uphold and exemplify in my life.” These values have helped Hunter and his family through challenging times and will continue to do so through residency and beyond.

Madeleine Karpiuk

Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Madeleine Karpiuk pursued a passion for art and history, earning her undergraduate degree from DePaul University in Chicago before completing a Master’s in Art History at the University of Glasgow in partnership with Christie’s Auction House.

She went on to build a remarkable career in London, curating art for institutions including the British Museum and the Vatican Museum. Yet despite her success, Madeleine never let go of a long-held dream of medicine — one she feared she had left behind too late. Determined to follow that calling, she completed a post-baccalaureate pre-med program and conducted research at Northwestern on circadian rhythms in Parkinson’s patients, then joined Noorda-COM.

True to her creative spirit, she didn’t leave her art world background at the door — she developed a research project pairing histology slides with classical works of art to help students sharpen their clinical observation skills, which was installed in the Elton Library.

A highlight of Madeleine’s clinical training was an elective rotation with NASA at Kennedy Space Center — the only medical student invited alongside residents — where she provided mission-critical medical support to the team building Artemis 2. The experience carried personal significance: her grandfather was a chemist who helped develop the rocket propellant used in the space capsule.

Madeleine will begin an Internal Medicine residency at Legacy Emmanuel/Good Samaritan in Portland, Oregon this July — and she and her husband are expecting their first child any day now.

Yuna and Joshua Jensen

Yuna and Joshua grew up just miles apart — Yuna in Highland and Josh in Springville — yet they didn’t meet until they were both serving missions for their church in Okinawa, Japan.

They didn’t hit it off at first, but Josh was persistent enough to eventually convince Yuna to transfer from BYU to the University of Utah, where they studied together and both set their sights on medicine. Yuna earned her degree in Kinesiology; Josh in Emergency Medical Services and Wilderness Rescue.

They applied to Noorda-COM together — and when their acceptance timelines didn’t quite line up, Josh simply emailed the school to explain the situation and that they’d reapply next year. Noorda’s response? We’ll take you both now!

Their path through medical school has been nothing short of remarkable. Three-quarters of the way through their first year, they learned they were expecting. Yuna — serving simultaneously as Student Body President, a student member of the Noorda-COM Board of Trustees, and a representative on the National Osteopathic Council — navigated pregnancy while keeping pace with her classmates.

Their son Hiro was born on October 11th, just two days before a major final exam. Yuna took six weeks off, then returned and never looked back. Josh recalls that the day after Hiro was born, Yuna was attending student government meetings virtually from her hospital bed.

None of it would have been possible alone. From the moment they shared the news, Noorda-COM’s faculty and staff sat down with them, helped them plan, and made clear there was a path forward — that becoming parents didn’t mean setting aside their dreams.

Their families showed up in every sense of the word: traveling to away rotation sites to help care for Hiro, then turning around and doing it all over again back home in Utah. During fourth year, when Josh and Yuna were often in different states — and Yuna even took Hiro to Japan for a month to shadow her brain surgeon uncle — it was that circle of support, from family and from Noorda, that kept everything together.

Josh also found time to serve as the COM26 Class Vice President, stay active with the Emergency Medicine Interest Group, and conduct research on mental health screening tools for refugee populations, which has since inspired a startup he’s building with friends.

Through all of it, what Josh and Yuna hope other students take away is this: two parents can make it through medical school. A mother doesn’t have to give up her dreams because her husband wants to be a doctor too — not when the right people are in your corner.

They couples-matched together at the same hospital in New Jersey — Josh heading into Emergency Medicine, Yuna into Pediatrics. And in true Jensen fashion, they have one more announcement to share: they are 12 weeks pregnant with their second child. 

Introducing Maria, a Second-year medical student at Noorda-COM!

When/how did you decide you wanted to be a doctor?

I have dreamed of becoming a doctor since I was a child. The fascination with the inner workings of the human body intrigued me through high school but it was not until I moved to the United States, when I seriously started looking into all the academic requirements to pursue my dream. Even then, it took twenty years of patience to finally get to where I am now.  

Maria as a child.

I grew up in Russia, where medical school begins right after high school, however, my initial academic pursuit was in business and the entertainment industry. I moved to the United States, married my husband and started a twenty-year journey around the country and the world as a military spouse. I met incredible people with each move, immersed in diverse communities throughout Asia, Europe and the Caribbean which gave me a deep appreciation for different cultures and life experiences. Over time, my view of medicine has transformed from intellectual curiosity to an opportunity to understand and serve people. I feel so blessed to finally step onto this path and share it with my colleagues. 

What motivates you every day on your journey to becoming a physician?

My daily motivation on this journey are my future patients and the incredible colleagues I meet along the way. At Noorda, I’ve had the privilege of learning alongside students who each bring their own strengths, gifts, and perspectives. Learning from and with them reminds me that the future of medicine and the world will be brighter as they enter the workforce. The kindness, perseverance, and genuine care I see here help me push through the challenging days, always keeping my future patients in mind.

Maria with Noorda colleagues.

Why did you choose Noorda-COM?

Noorda-COM has created an environment conducive to learning medicine and raising a family. Prior to medical school, I was a stay-at-home mom, and my family always came first – even as I decided to follow my own aspirations. Learning about Noorda’s pod system and prerecorded lectures offered a balance between school and family in a way that strengthens both. I am truly grateful for the chance to pursue my dream of medicine while being able to stay present for my family. 

Family At Zions Park.

What is one thing you are most proud of?

I am most proud of over twenty years of marriage and our family.  

Maria and her spouse at a Military Ball.

Who has had the greatest impact on your life or medical journey?

The military community has profoundly shaped both my life and my desire to serve as a military physician. Most of my adult years have been within this community. Our children were born around the world, and in many ways, the military family helped raise them. Through constant moves, deployments, and new beginnings, I witnessed firsthand the resilience, sacrifice, and shared purpose that define military life. 

Military Graduation with parents-in-law.

It is this deep sense of community and service that inspired me to join the military through the Health Professions Scholarship Program. I carry immense gratitude for service members and their families who sacrifice so much, and I am honored to give back through my own future service as a physician. I understand deployments from the family’s perspective – the long stretches of uncertainty, the missed milestones, the children who long for a parent, and the quiet waiting for a reassuring call from thousands of miles away. I believe that shared experience will allow me to build meaningful connections and care for military families with the empathy and understanding they deserve. 

How do you find balance in medical school, especially with being a mother?

I wouldn’t have made it this far without my husband’s support. We tag-team responsibilities at home and continue to rely on teamwork to accomplish things. 

Maria on Noorda-COM Campus.

Our children are older now and are independent enough for me to focus on schoolwork. There are still days when the balance gets challenging. If someone is sick, has a school event, or needs help with a project, I try to be present – even if that means staying up late to study. And when exams take over, and I’m consumed with preparation, I make it a priority to carve out intentional time on the weekend to do something special together as a family. I’ve also looked for ways to overlap both responsibilities, such as volunteering with Anatomy Academy at one of our children’s schools, which was a true win-win.
So many Noorda student-parents are a constant source of inspiration to me, and I applaud them as we continue this journey.

What is your favorite part of osteopathic medicine?

I value the holistic approach of osteopathic medicine and the additional perspective it gives me in recognizing and treating somatic dysfunction. On a personal level, I love when our kids come to me to treat their aches and pains and watch them be blown away by my “magic” powers.  

What specialty of medicine are you most interested in?

Eventually, I would like to practice Family Medicine (FM) in a rural community, where I can meet patients where they are and build trust not only in the exam room, but throughout the community. I’m looking forward to caring for patients across the lifespan and to long-term relationships FM offers. Rural practice will also allow for the development of procedural skills and innovation in resource-limited conditions, something military residency should prepare me for. After FM residency, I hope to complete a surgical obstetric fellowship to help provide much-needed obstetric care in rural communities that are already considered maternity care deserts.

Attending An AAFP Meeting With Other Students.

Introducing Drew, a Second-year medical student at Noorda-COM!

When/how did you decide you wanted to be a doctor?
I’ve wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember, but the dream truly solidified when I was about 14. Since then, I’ve steered my life toward medicine in every way possible.

What motivates you every day on your journey to becoming a physician?
My beautiful wife and five children are my biggest motivation. They’ve sacrificed so much to help me chase this dream—we sold our home, left friends and family in Idaho, and moved to Utah (which has been amazing, by the way). This isn’t just my medical degree—it’s our medical degree. It’s been a family effort from the very beginning.

Drew’s family at Noorda-COM.

Why did you choose Noorda-COM?
Noorda-COM immediately stood out for its family-conscious, welcoming atmosphere—something I didn’t feel at any other school I interviewed with.

What is one thing you are most proud of?
I’m proud of my nontraditional path to medicine. I wasn’t ready for medical school in my early years, so I pursued a career in law enforcement instead. After nearly a decade as a State Trooper with the Idaho State Police, I felt called back to medicine. While working full-time, I completed my prerequisites and prepared for medical school. It’s been a long, challenging journey—but I’m proud to have made it here.

Drew being ‘pinned’ by his wife after being sworn in as a State Trooper by the Governor of Idaho.

Who has had the greatest impact on your life or medical journey?
Without question, my wife. People often ask, “How do you do medical school with five kids?” My answer: “My job is easy compared to hers.” She keeps everything running—raising our kids, managing the household, and supporting me every step of the way. I couldn’t do this without her.

What are you passionate about?
My family, BYU athletics, and the New York Yankees (I rarely miss a game).

Drew & Family.

How do you find balance in medical school?
“Balance” might be too generous a word—but I do believe in setting aside time every day for myself and others. When I’m on campus, I’m fully focused. When I go home, I hang up the “medical student” hat and put on the “dad/husband” hat. Other than a little OMT practice, I try not to bring school home. That separation keeps me grounded.

What is your favorite part of osteopathic medicine?
I love that osteopathic medicine focuses on the whole patient—not just symptoms. In many ways, it mirrors my past in law enforcement: investigating, digging deeper, and solving problems so people can feel their best overall.

What specialty of medicine are you most interested in?
Emergency medicine. My years as a first responder taught me to thrive in fast-paced, unpredictable environments, and the ER feels like a natural fit. That said, I’m keeping an open mind as I begin clinical rotations.

What is one of your favorite memories at Noorda-COM?
Some of my favorite moments have come from serving others—whether volunteering at the Volunteer Care Clinic or working with local kids through the Kaufusi’s Keikis program. Few things in life are as rewarding as putting what I’ve learned into practice to help others.

Drew showing a curious keiki how a blood pressure cuff works.

Introducing Jacob, a second-year medical student at Noorda-COM!

1. When/how did you decide you wanted to be a doctor?

I never planned on becoming a doctor. I started as an engineer, switched to law, then spent three years as a social worker. It wasn’t until a two-year religious sabbatical in Brazil—where I saw medicine in action daily—that I realized it combined everything I loved: the mind (psychology), the body (neuroscience), and the spirit (faith). Osteopathic medicine became the perfect blend of all three.

2. Why did you choose Noorda-COM?

Medical schools all teach the same curriculum, so I wasn’t worried about learning different anatomy or pharmacology. What mattered was the environment—a place where I could grow, connect, and be happy. Noorda-COM’s pod-based learning, research emphasis, and student-focused approach made it the right fit. I don’t want to be an “I’ll be happy when…” doctor—I want to be happy now, and Noorda-COM makes that possible every day.

Jacob performing osteopathic muscle manipulation (OMM).

3. Who has had the greatest impact on your medical journey?

My high school Spanish teacher, Señorita Taylor, shaped the way I see the world—always curious, always learning. While I was in Brazil, she passed away due to complications from surgery. Her passion for discovery still inspires me to understand people, cultures, and medicine in a deeper way.

4. What has your HPSP/military experience been like?

HPSP has been life-changing. The scholarship lifted a massive financial burden, letting me focus fully on medical school. Every training and military event reminds me why I chose medicine—to serve people in need and my country. The sense of community in the military is unlike anything else, and I feel privileged to be part of it.

Jacob in uniform.

5. What is one thing you wish people knew about osteopathic medicine?

Osteopathic medicine isn’t about choosing between traditional and holistic care—it’s about balance. DOs are trained in both, giving us a broader scope to treat patients. It’s not “less scientific” than MD training—it’s more comprehensive.

6. What is your go-to wellness activity?

Running while listening to audiobooks—I have several mountain trail routes all around Provo that are perfect for running while listening to Brandon Sanderson novels.

7. How do you find balance in medical school?

Balance is definitely not a static thing for me. My balance often comes from feeling the dynamic shifts in school, where some weeks will be completely school-heavy, while other weeks will be focused on family and wellness. I try to schedule out my days so I always have time to spend with my spouse and personal time to read books, go on a run, or work on personal projects.

8. What are you currently looking forward to?

I got married in July 2024, but I had to plan the ceremony in 2 weeks, and it was during the first week of school, so we didn’t have any time to plan a honeymoon. We then planned a reception and party for December of 2024 to celebrate with all our friends and family who couldn’t make it with 2-week notice. We had planned to go on our honeymoon right after, but due to immigration issues, we weren’t able to leave the country to go on our honeymoon cruise as planned. Now, I’m really trying to study to do well on Boards so that I have a chance to go on my honeymoon cruise for our 1-year anniversary in June or July. Third time’s the charm, right?