Larner Welcomes Class of 2028 Medical Students

Classroom of students with speaker in the front

Larner Welcomes Class of 2028 Medical Students

August 21, 2024 by Margie Brenner

On August 5, 2024, the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont welcomed 124 new medical students in the Class of 2028 to campus.

Larner dean Richard L. Page, M.D., addressed the incoming students in his welcome message, stressing the importance of maintaining a good work-life balance, and emphasizing the core values of professionalism. “This is an amazing group. You bring such excellence, diversity, and different perspectives on the world. We are just as excited as you are that you are here, and we are all working together to provide for you an education—that our namesake, Dr. Robert Larner, used to say—we aspire to be second to none,” he said, adding, “You have got to study and work hard, but that does not mean you give up the things you love. Identify what is important to you and do not stop doing that.”

Leila Amiri, Ph.D., associate dean for admissions, echoed the dean’s message. “You were hand-selected out of thousands of applicants,” she said. “It’s a long pathway to get into medical school, and collectively, you’ve done remarkable work with over 400,000 of clinical experience, over 140,000 hours of research experience, and almost 40,000 hours of community service. This is who you are. Everything you did to inform yourselves about a career in medicine is in alignment with the mission we have here at the Larner College of Medicine.”

Welcoming the Class of 2028 to the Larner College of Medicine

Charting the Course to Becoming Compassionate Health Care Professionals

From August 5 to 9, the first-year University of Vermont (UVM) medical students participated in Orientation—the first course of the Foundations level of the Vermont Integrated Curriculum. During the week, each day was packed with interactive activities and exercises designed to familiarize students with different facets of their upcoming journey. They explored the college’s facilities and advanced technology, met with esteemed faculty, staff, and classmates, and received a thorough orientation to the Larner College of Medicine’s educational experience. A unique highlight was the “First Patient” presentation, a treasured tradition where students meet their “first patient” under the guidance of Larner Chair of Pediatrics and UVM Children’s Hospital Pediatrics Chief Lewis First, M.D., M.S. The week offered an ideal mix of preparation, connection, and excitement for the future physicians.

The new medical students were also placed in their Professionalism, Communication, and Reflection (PCR) course groups and met with their respective group advisors. PCR is a 3-year longitudinal course featuring small, process-oriented discussion groups guided by experienced faculty preceptors. Students delve into a broad array of key topics, including professionalism, self-awareness, personal well-being, and effective communication with peers, colleagues, and patients, as well as the social, ethical, and economic dimensions of medicine. This course, which focuses on building emotional intelligence, features engaging discussions and aims to cultivate well-rounded, empathetic future physicians who are equipped with the skills and values necessary to navigate the challenges of the medical field.

Students from the Class of 2028 engaged in community service at Burlington's Intervale Conservation Nursery and Ethan Allen Homestead

View the Slideshow for the Class of 2028 Orientation

Nurturing Civic Engagement and Cultural Awareness

Another highlight of Orientation week was the coordinated community service and wellness activities. The Class of 2028 assisted local partners in Burlington, performing such tasks as weeding a bed of native tree species affected by recent floods that will be used in riparian restoration projects at the Intervale Conservation Nursery, and helping to reclaim historic gardens by weeding and mulching at the Ethan Allen Homestead managed by the City of Burlington Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront. They also engaged in volunteer initiatives at the Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity ReStore, emphasizing a commitment to making a meaningful difference beyond the classroom.

Each year, students participate in the ‘Finding Our Common Ground’ curriculum that includes a variety of sessions on such topics as cultural awareness, addressing health disparities and combatting imposter syndrome—all of which are essential to promoting professionalism and excellence in health care. These sessions are organized and led by the Larner Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Before starting classes, students must complete the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®), a research-based assessment of intercultural competence. Upon completing the IDI®, students receive a personalized plan to enhance their cultural humility development throughout medical school and beyond. Tiffany Delaney, M.A.Ed., Larner’s director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, stresses that gaining these skills is essential not just for interacting within their class cohort but also for their future roles as physicians working with diverse patient populations.

Meet the Class of 2028

Students in the Class of 2028 were selected from a pool of more than 9,300 applicants. Just over a quarter of the new med students are Vermonters and 27 percent identify as LGBTQ+. In addition, 24 percent of UVM’s newest medical students are people underrepresented in medicine—referred to in higher education as “URiM”—a category that includes African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino/a, and Native American/Alaskan Native. The student body draws from 20 states.

Patrick Barrett

Patrick Barrett, originally from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, was familiar with Vermont and Larner’s reputation after moving to Vermont in 2017 to attend Saint Michael’s College. Thanks to his varied experiences as an EMT, Army Officer and researcher, he is excited to explore what he considers his true calling.

Barrett’s journey in healthcare started during his college tour at St. Mike’s, when he was shocked to learn from the tour guide that her roommate was working on the ambulance that drove by his group on the way to a call. A little over one year later, he ended up working for Saint Michael’s Rescue (SMR), which he joined during his sophomore year of college. Since 2020, he’s worked at the University of Vermont Medical Center emergency department as an EMT, a job he hopes to keep working per diem through medical school.

“In the same hour I could be in class and responding to a car accident on the interstate,” he remarked. “If there’s one thing I’ve taken from my experiences before medical school, it’s that I want to take care of acutely ill patients. Watching physicians manage critically ill patients by leading the team in our Emergency Department (and managing to stay calm and collected in the chaos) has been truly inspiring.”

Based on his personal experiences, Barrett is committed to connecting with and supporting patients with medical emergencies in fast-paced areas such as emergency medicine, surgery or anesthesia, recognizing the importance of remaining calm through crucial times of need. He also hopes to apply the knowledge he gained from his work with dramatically different populations to address the unique needs of each patient to best support their recovery.

Madi Cohen

Madi Cohen, from Bolton, Vermont, chose the Larner College of Medicine to give back to her community and pursue her passion for health care. Drawn by the supportive environment and abundant research opportunities, she felt that Larner was the right place to tackle the challenges of medical school.

Cohen's interest in medicine is deeply rooted in her own encounters, particularly with cancer patients, including a young classmate undergoing chemotherapy while they were in elementary school. These personal experiences led her to focus on oncology, where she aspires to enhance treatment options. Her undergraduate research on immune cells in renal cell carcinoma, coupled with her volunteer work on an oncology floor, solidified her commitment to this field.

As she begins her medical education, Cohen emphasizes the importance of professionalism—one of Larner’s core values—acknowledging the role of medical students as representatives of both the Larner College of Medicine and the University of Vermont Medical Center.

“We have all worked so hard on our individual paths to get here and owe it to ourselves and each other to uphold these values… I am eager to embrace the next four years, confident that they will bring significant growth both personally and professionally.”

Cohen looks forward to providing high-quality patient care and is excited about the journey ahead, committed to continuous learning and development.

Quinn Duisberg

Originally from Durham, New Hampshire, Quinn Duisberg was drawn to the Larner College of Medicine by the kindness and authenticity of the people they encountered during their interview day. They felt confident that Larner would be a place where they could be their true self, and so far, the welcoming environment and beautiful surroundings have confirmed that choice.

Duisberg’s interest in medicine is deeply personal, shaped by their experience with hearing loss due to chronic ear disease, and the anxiety associated with prior attempts to address it". Their fears were alleviated by the compassion and humility shown by the otologic surgeon who ultimately stabilized their hearing loss, listened to them and understood their concerns. This experience highlighted the profound impact of empathy and active listening, values that Duisberg is determined to bring into their own practice.

“During my first visit, the doctor noticed my nervousness and asked about it in a non-judgmental way. I shared my thoughts, and he assured me he’d explain everything and be as gentle as possible, stopping if I asked. Thanks to his approach, and the trust I had in him, the exam went smoothly, and he successfully stabilized my hearing loss.”

As they begin their medical education, Duisberg emphasizes the importance of making patients feel safe and heard. They are committed to engaging in meaningful conversations with patients, addressing their concerns, and ensuring that care is a collaborative effort.

Looking ahead, Duisberg aims to use their platform as a future physician to make high-quality and compassionate care more accessible to marginalized groups. “My hope for my career is making exemplary medical care more accessible to groups that have historically been cast aside and in many cases traumatized by the healthcare system—people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, unhoused individuals, disabled folks, immigrants, and so on. And while I’ll never truly be able to comprehend some of my patients’ perspectives, I can seek to understand them and certainly empathize with some of their lived realities.”

Patrick Parkinson

On the road to Vermont, Patrick Parkinson took the scenic route. Born in Jamaica and raised across three states from Florida to Kentucky and finally, Michigan, Parkinson was drawn to Larner for reasons beyond its reputation for excellent physician training. He noticed a student body with identities that are underrepresented in medicine, and observed a real intentionality about the way the college tries to create a community in which everyone feels valued, respected and supported in their academic journey.

Through firsthand experience identifying as an immigrant, a person of color, and being from a rural area, Parkinson gained perspective. “As I started to realize that where you are from, what you look like, your socio-economic status, etc., can impact your experience with the healthcare environment and influence health outcomes, I started to become passionate about health equity.” This led him to pursue a master of public health degree, alongside professional roles such as a scribe, a collegiate substance abuse counselor, a researcher, a patient advocate, and a public health project manager.

As an older, non-traditional student, Parkinson took a detour back to medical school through the Dean’s Medical Scholars Program, which directs students towards earning a Master’s in Medical Science (MMS) degree with the intention of entering medical school upon completion. The program helped him feel more prepared to tackle the rigors of medical school. “It provided an opportunity for me to reform my study habits, freshen up on subjects like biochemistry, and get back in the general swing of being a student.”

As a future physician, Parkinson hopes he can make every one of his patients feel like they were heard and respected, and that he is an ally in their journey. “Given my personal experiences, I hope to help increase accessibility and offer quality healthcare to patients who are medically underserved and people who have felt excluded from the healthcare field.”

Nour Hassan

Nour Hassan, who was born and raised in Egypt, chose the Larner College of Medicine for its warm and inclusive environment, which she deemed crucial for the demanding journey of medical school. With advanced degrees from Canada’s McGill University and professional experience in New York City, Nour’s personal experiences have profoundly shaped her view of healthcare. She witnessed significant disparities and suffered personal losses in Egypt due to systemic issues, which ignited her passion for global health equity.

“At McGill, I had the opportunity to work with cancer patients who benefited from education, early intervention, and cutting-edge research. Meanwhile, I lost several family members and loved ones in my village in Egypt due to systemic limitations—lack of education, distant overcrowded facilities, and underdeveloped palliative care.”

At that point, Nour realized she wanted to dedicate her career to making healthcare a right rather than a luxury for underserved communities. She aims to contribute to sustainable, culturally sensitive research and care, particularly for cancer patients in low-resource settings.

Nour values diversity and self-discovery, considering her own identity a mosaic of experiences gathered from a variety of people. She believes that the ability to forge such connections with patients—when they see reflections of themselves in her—will foster trust and enable her to provide the highest quality care as she works toward becoming a doctor.

Jacob Henderson

Jacob Henderson, a native of Rutland, Vermont, chose the Larner College of Medicine for its innovative, collaborative curriculum and strong sense of community. He was drawn to the college's emphasis on teamwork in healthcare, which aligns with his own values and aspirations. The opportunity to engage in public health projects also appealed to Henderson as a way to continue giving back to the community he cares about.

After completing his undergraduate studies at Vermont State University–Castleton and working as a medical assistant, Jacob developed a profound appreciation for the importance of patient connections and the unique challenges faced by rural communities.

“My experiences have shown me that even brief interactions can be transformative, and this motivates me to build lasting relationships with patients, especially in rural areas where access to care is limited,” he said.

Jacob is dedicated to addressing healthcare disparities in rural settings, where he has witnessed firsthand the difficulties in accessing medical services. He aims to practice in a rural community similar to his hometown, improving healthcare access and contributing to sustainable, compassionate care. Additionally, he hopes to inspire and educate others by being a role model in these communities, fostering a culture of continuous learning and empathy.

Read the Dean’s welcome message to the Larner community and the Class of 2028

Office of Medical Communications