The People Behind the Numbers

These are not statistics. They are future physicians - people who chose to give an extra year of their training to teach others.

These are future physicians - people who chose to give an extra year of their training to teach others, believing they were building a stronger foundation for their careers and for the institutions that trained them. Here are some of their stories.

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Megan Stacy

Anatomy Fellow

Former police officer and EMT who served the Greater New Orleans communities for 10 years as a first responder. Goal: Emergency medicine physician.

"My name is Megan Stacy, and as an incoming 4th year medical student, recent changes to federal financial aid guidelines have placed my completion of medical school at risk. Between my 2nd and 3rd years of medical school I participated in an additional year of training in my institution's pre-doctoral clinical anatomy fellowship. This fellowship experience allowed me to conduct research, expand my teaching skills, work ahead on my dual-degree master's in public health, and gain deep exposure to surgical skills."

With the addition of a 5th year to my education, I now no longer qualify for financial aid. These federal aid changes prevent me from taking out any form of loans next academic year - unsubsidized loans, subsidized loans, and GradPlus loans. Not only does this impact financing medical school, but GradPlus loans have been the method used to finance my dual-degree courses. These policy changes took effect on May 1st, giving students very little time to seek alternative funding.

- Megan Stacy, Student Doctor, KCU-COM

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Rebekah Sweyko-Brown

OMM Fellow

First-generation medical student from a small town in southeast Kansas. Accepted into the MSSU-KCU Early Acceptance Program and completed undergraduate education without any loans. Passionate about primary care and osteopathic medicine.

"I am a first generation medical student who came from a very small town in southeast Kansas, where the majority of students went into trade work or would continue working on their family farm after high school. Becoming a doctor was not something that many people dreamed of being where I grew up."

To help with the cost of medical school, and because of my passion for Osteopathic Medicine, I took on the OMM Fellowship at KCU to gain specialized training prior to residency. Now, that decision has put me in a precarious, unforeseen situation, with the threat of having to take out high interest, private student loans due to federal aid eligibility changes. I don't have any other doctors in my family. I have been navigating this whole process by myself from day one and being put into this position due to federal policy change, in the middle of this extra training I signed up for, just feels like a stab in the back and that I am being punished for being a high achieving student.

- Rebekah Sweyko-Brown, Student Doctor, KCU-COM

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Morgan Stewart

Anatomy Fellow & Parent

Current osteopathic medical student, wife, and mother of three young children. Chose the pre-doctoral anatomy fellowship out of passion for medical education and mentorship.

"I am a current osteopathic medical student, wife, and mother of three young children who chose to complete a pre-doctoral anatomy fellowship because of my passion for medical education and mentorship. Throughout the fellowship, I remained continuously enrolled full-time while teaching and supporting junior medical students in anatomy education and contributing to the academic mission of the College of Osteopathic Medicine all while balancing the intricacies of a busy personal life."

The recent federal aid changes now place my ability to complete medical school at serious risk. Because the fellowship extended my educational timeline by one year, I am facing the unexpected loss of federal loan eligibility for my final year of medical school despite remaining in good academic standing and continuously enrolled throughout the program. As a parent supporting a family during medical training, the potential loss of federal aid creates an overwhelming financial burden during one of the most critical stages of my education.

- Morgan Stewart, Student Doctor, KCU-COM

What Happens If This Goes Unfunded

Interrupted Education

Fellows who cannot qualify for private loans may be forced to interrupt or permanently withdraw from their medical programs - in their final year.

Unsustainable Debt

Those who do qualify for private loans will face unsustainable debt burdens during residency, with long-term consequences for financial stability, mental health, and practice location.

Systemic Impact

The precedent set will deter future students from pursuing pre-doctoral fellowships, reducing the pipeline of teaching-committed physicians.

The medical education community benefits when talented students dedicate a year of training to teaching and mentorship. When that dedication is met with financial punishment, the long-term effect is a less experienced, less pedagogically committed physician workforce.

Support These Future Physicians

Your donation directly supports medical students who have already proven their commitment to education, mentorship, and service. Help them cross the finish line.

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