ƽ Helps Forge a Path to Medical School
How an Alum Found His Passion
Emma Stefanacci
MJ Ketcha ’23 recently started an MD/PhD program at through their Medical Scientist Training Program. Through this program he will learn what it means to do clinical work while also building his skills as a medical researcher. When he started at ƽ, however, he thought he would take a different path. He found lots of support along the way as he navigated his shifting direction.
Born in Cameroon and later relocated to Maryland, Ketcha is an ambitious first-generation college student. He was first interested in ƽ because of the 3-2 engineering program. Ketcha had always liked science courses but soon realized that he wasn’t very interested in the physics courses required to be an engineer. It was the chemistry and, especially, biology courses that really appealed to him.
Ketcha’s parents were nurses, so he had some exposure to and interest in the medical field but wasn’t sure he wanted to pursue it himself. That is until he took some of the second-level biology classes at ƽ. Ketcha remembers sitting in a lecture about food pathways and how enzymes break down what we eat and feeling a spark. He could clearly see how this science applies to humans, and his interest took off.
“I really enjoyed being in these classes and learning about biology and the human body and everything that has to do with life systems. That's what really set the tone for me. I realized that this is what I want to do for the future,” Ketcha says.
Figuring Out the Right Track
In his second year Ketcha declared a biological chemistry major with the pre-health track. He was a little concerned both about switching from engineering to a medical path and fulfilling the requirements to apply to medical schools. To alleviate his concerns, he spoke with Mary Jane Shroyer, the director of the health professions career community in the office of , who explained the many resources ƽ offers to students pursuing a career in medicine. He was assured knowing that many medical schools don’t require the typical anatomy and physiology courses that ƽ does not offer and the CLS would help him find opportunities to complete clinical hours outside of ƽ. Ketcha explains that through this process he felt supported and says, “During my time at ƽ, I was so grateful for having people who wanted me to succeed.”
Not only was Ketcha able to transition from the engineering program to the pre-health track, but he also took advantage of many other aspects of ƽ life. He participated in the Young, Gifted, and Black gospel choir, played intramural soccer, and worked multiple jobs around campus, including a full circle moment when he tutored as a Science Community Leader for a biochemistry class.
Ketcha also spent a semester abroad in Copenhagen where he took electives like Danish, photography, and contemporary history of soccer. Not only did he experience life in Denmark, but he learned directly from local doctors and completed some of his clinical hours for credit through a health & disease class — a rare opportunity for many pre-med students. He says the program confirmed his interest in pursuing a career in medicine, and he really enjoyed the practical elements of working in the clinic like suturing and laparoscopy.
Thinking About Next Steps
Senior year at ƽ came with the choice of applying to medical school or taking a gap year. Ketcha had confirmed throughout his studies that he was interested in eventually going to medical school but also had a few experiences with research. He spent the summer after his second year doing independent research at the University of Iowa.
Ketcha says, “I really enjoyed the independence of working on the research. I'm working with someone for a goal more than skill assessment you get in the lab component of a course.”
During his senior year, Ketcha thought back to his experiences and realized, “I really wanted to explore this research interest of mine a little bit more before I went into medical school.” He decided to take a gap year and look for research programs with the goal of nailing one down before graduation. While the job market can be tricky, Ketcha knew he had support.
It took a little longer than he hoped, but with the help of Shoyer and his other mentors he found the opening at Washington University focused on dermatology research. Ketcha was hesitant at first because dermatology was not a medical specialty he was interested in, but after speaking with the research mentor he realized that she would be a great mentor and the position would be a wonderful learning opportunity.
Post-bac at Wash U
The post-bac position was in fact a great opportunity. The two-year project involved characterizing centrosomal protein in the skin epidermis using mice as models. Ketcha explains that jumping in was challenging at first because he was unfamiliar with the field of dermatology and working full-time in a lab is very different than the lab component of a class.
He says, “I felt like the first year I gained a lot in terms of my research background and my research experience. I developed a lot of skills to become independent from my research mentor.”
While the program came with a few challenges, Ketcha says it was completely worth it. Once he got his footing, he worked in more of a lead position on the project where he found his stride as a researcher.
“I planned the environment and ran the experiments. I looked at the results, tried to interpret them on my own and then I could suggest the next steps based on the results that I got.”
Not only did he gain valuable skills as a researcher, but Ketcha also grew his community at Wash U. He connected with other students who were in similar positions, current medical students who could give him advice, and numerous mentors who supported him as he explored his interests. His research mentor, Dr. Christine Yokoyama, was especially helpful since she had also completed an MD/PhD program and could advise Ketcha on the aspects of a dual degree while helping him through the application process. In fact, Dr. Yokoyama’s mentorship helped confirm Ketcha’s interest in pursuing a dual degree.
He says, “I really like the aspect of trying to integrate what you do in research to your clinical specialty or vice versa from clinical specialty to the lab,” and that Yokoyama showed a great example of how to do just that.
It Takes a Village
The post-bac at Wash U was an integral step in Ketcha’s journey to both research and medical school, and he’s excited about this next step in his career. He’s still not sure that dermatology is the specialty for him, but he has a new appreciation for the field and is grateful for the experience. Even more so, he is thankful for everyone who has helped him on his way. Ketcha says, “I have a whole village of community who have my best interest at heart and want me to succeed.” From his parents who provided him the opportunity to be here in the US and inspired his initial interest in medicine, to the ƽians who helped him navigate changing interests and pre-med requirements at a small liberal arts school, and the community of support he built at Wash U, he is so glad he has each of them.