Janel Miner would tell you her daughter Kaity Miner was destined to be a doctor from the age of 8.
"She'd say I wanted to be a doctor since forever," said Kaity, who is enrolling in medical school at the Kansas City University College of Medicine after graduating summa cum laude with a St. Ambrose University Bachelor of Science in Biology.
"When I was 8, my Mom was earning her master's as a nurse practitioner," Miner said. "She's a midwife now. Prior to that, she was a labor delivery nurse and we'd go visit her at the hospital. So, the medical field has always been in my life."
Great doctors are not born, though. They must first find their passion.
Miner came to St. Ambrose intent on exploring her options after graduating from Moline High School with honors. As an Ambrose Scholar, she carried equal passions for science, writing, and journalism and was intent on determining which passion best fit her future.
"When I got here, I could see myself going in so many directions," she said. "I took general Chemistry and I was pretty good at it, and decided that first semester I wanted to go in the science direction. After freshman year, I was like medicine is my passion."
She still was able to exercise her journalism interest, serving as editor of The Buzz her sophomore year, even while beginning the process of considering medical schools and preparing to take the rigorous Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
In the process of the latter, Miner found strong allies among the Biology Department faculty.
"I just love our Biology Department," she said. "The professors we have there are outstanding and they are so open for you to come and talk to them. They were a resource as I studied for my MCAT."
She also found support from fellow students. Keegan Steele '19, currently working through his third year in the Indiana University Rural Medicine Program, was a student mentor to Miner early on. He also is one of several current or future MDs who would tell her that while SAU doesn't technically offer a pre-Med major, it very effectively does.
"I would absolutely agree with that," Miner said of the strength of the Biology program. "One of my favorite experiences here is the cadaver lab. That is a very unique asset for a small institution to offer undergraduate students. It gives you a foundation that so many schools don't have."
Beyond that, the Biology curriculum and an active Doctors To Bee Club have helped send many SAU graduates into the medical profession.
"I would tell any pre-Med, pre-PA or any students interested in the medical profession to consider St. Ambrose," Miner said.
As a dedicated student who made the most of both her academic and on-campus experience - Miner was a Resident Assistant, and participated in multiple clubs in addition to work on the school paper - the alum said she also would tell any new student to get involved on campus to maximize their too-short time.
"In high school, I put a big emphasis on being part of the community," said Miner, who also was a tutor in the Student Success Center. "When I came to Ambrose, my focus was how can I serve this community of Ambrosians."
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