Jordan Lukens
Medical student Jordan shares the aspects of Ohio State’s curriculum and culture that made him even more excited to attend medical school here.
Amanda Martinez
Finding my home away from home within Ohio State’s medical community.
At a very young age I chose to pursue medicine. I grew up in a family of immigrants in south Florida. My sister was diagnosed with amblyopia, or lazy eye. Our after-school activities involved going to her doctors’ visits and treatments at the pediatric ophthalmology clinic, where they used all of these high-tech tools and equipment. I was so intrigued. Then in high school and college, I participated in eye dissections and cataract surgery.
The Ohio State Buckeyes winning the 2014 national championship football game put Ohio on the map for me. I wanted the big-school, collegiate experience. I applied and was accepted, but ultimately decided to stay in Florida for undergrad while pursuing my degree and research in genetics at the University of Florida. When I started looking at medical schools, I wanted a program where I would gain experience treating common diseases while also working with patients with rare diseases. I knew Ohio State would provide the best and most comprehensive training available because of its size and having seven health science colleges on one campus.
Another factor that helped me decide to come to Ohio State is that after your first year of education, you can apply to gain in-state residency for tuition, which is a huge financial benefit for medical students.
I moved to Columbus in July 2020 at the peak of the pandemic. Meeting my classmates, many of whom also came from out of state, helped me adjust. I’ve been able to find my fellow Latinas and get to know so many others from different backgrounds.
I’m involved with La Clinica Latina, a Spanish-speaking medical clinic that is free to those in need. I serve as the scheduling director and a patient-facing volunteer. The clinic provides medical care to the Hispanic population of all different backgrounds, and my interactions at the clinic help me stay connected to my community while serving patients who come from similar backgrounds as I.
The faculty, staff and leadership truly care about students here. They have an open-door policy so if I need to talk to someone, I can stop in to say hello or to pose more serious academic and personal questions. They want students to succeed, but also to feel cared for and have the support and access to the research and resources we need to get through medical school.
I know I made the right decision to come to Ohio State. When I moved from Florida, I found this wonderful community — a community that supports and encourages me to challenge myself and go after my dream to help patients with eye disease retain their vision.
Where our students learn
Why choose The Ohio State University College of Medicine?
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Highly ranked top-tier education Ohio State students are consistently prepared for Step exams and match in some of the most prestigious residency programs across the nation.
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Join an unsurpassed community of support Our students agree that what makes Ohio State great is the dedicated people who surround and support them.
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Out-of-state friendly About half of our incoming classes are out-of-state students who have the opportunity to gain in-state residency after their first year.
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We are diverse by design Our commitment to diversity and inclusion can be seen every day in the collaboration between students, faculty and staff on our campus.
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Experience the vibrant city of Columbus Whatever your lifestyle — a warm and welcoming academic community, a picturesque campus or a vibrant city — it’s all within reach.
MD Programs we offer
Read other Ohio State MD student stories
Aliyah Bennett
Through Ohio State’s MD/PhD program, Aliyah combines her passions for medicine and research as she develops new treatments for chronic pain.
Selena Taha
Medical student Selena shares why she chose Ohio State’s three-year primary care program as it is uniquely positioned to prepare students to enter the field of family medicine.
Evans Osuji
Evans explains how Ohio State’s inclusive and collaborative learning environment is preparing him to treat the needs of diverse communities.
Ashley Hoblit, MD
Providing accessible care in rural communities drives Dr. Hoblit’s passion for practicing family and community medicine. Learn more about Ohio State’s Community Medicine MD Track.