In this episode of POMA DOes…, Cathleen S. McGonigle, DO, faculty member and Director of the Osteopathic Principles and Practice Courses at LECOM at Seton Hill campus and POMA District 8 Trustee, speaks with three osteopathic medical students who took nontraditional paths to medicine. Aaron Vanderberg, a former Army physician assistant and current second-year student at LECOM Seton Hill; Derek DiAngelis, a former orthopedic physician assistant and fourth-year student at LECOM Seton Hill; and Kevin Hauns, a third-year student at PCOM with a background in military leadership and vaccine research, share their paths to osteopathic medicine. Together, they discuss the challenges of returning to school, balancing family responsibilities and the demands of medical school, and how prior careers shaped their approach to patient care, resilience, and leadership. Their stories offer encouragement and practical advice for anyone considering a nontraditional path into osteopathic medicine.

Key Takeaways:

• There's no single path to becoming a physician. Nontraditional students bring valuable life experience, perspective, and resilience that can strengthen both medical education and patient care.

• Prior experience can be a major advantage. Whether through military service, clinical practice, research, or leadership, real-world experience builds discipline, confidence, and a deeper understanding of patient care.

• If you're considering the leap, go for it. The panel encourages aspiring nontraditional students to trust their abilities, ask for help when needed, and move forward with intention and hard work.

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