High School Classmates Start Medical Careers with Truman Undergrad

There is a reason medical doctors make up less than one percent of the U.S. population. The best and the brightest candidates need to study for years in high school and college before taking a grueling medical school entrance examination. Then comes another four years of medical school, followed by three to seven years of a residency program. The rigorous path to the profession is not for everyone, but two Truman students from the same rural high school graduating class are helping one another reach their dreams to one day become doctors.

Lauren Reid and Gracie LaFoe have been classmates since they were in elementary school in Palmyra, Missouri – population 3,613. In small towns, everyone knows one another, but their friendship was solidified by chance in middle school.

“We took an agriculture class together in eighth grade,” Reid said. “I think we found some comradery there because all of the other people in our class were boys.”

Welding and woodworking projects showed the duo they were cut from the same cloth, and throughout high school, their interests overlapped a lot. They were in the same organizations, competed on the track team together and attended prom with the same group of friends. They also shared the career aspiration of being a doctor, and when it came time for college, Truman turned out to be the best fit.

Coming from a graduating class of 79 students, attending Truman can feel like making it to the big leagues, but neither LaFoe nor Reid felt intimidated, even when their new peers where surprised to learn things like rural students being able to earn dual enrollment credits.

“Some people have a preconceived notion about small towns. Unfortunately, they believe we did not get a ‘good’ education from our school, or that we don’t know as much as other students,” LaFoe said. “However, Lauren was our valedictorian in our class, and I was not too far behind. Plus, our high school was ranked one of the highest in the state for its education.”

For years, Truman has earned praise for its small class sizes, offering opportunities for students to fully engage with faculty. That same sentiment can be applied to small high schools as well.

“An advantage about coming from a rural background is that the school environment is much more personal. You get to make closer relationships with your teachers, coaches and peers,” Reid said. “While it is true we had less variety in the courses we could take or extracurriculars we could be involved in, I do not feel like I have an inferior education going to a rural school. I had wonderful teachers in Palmyra that cared about our education and prepared us to succeed in college.”

Although they have similar career plans, their paths have started to diverge at Truman. Reid hopes to one day work in pediatrics, and has pursued a degree in exercise science with a minor in philosophy and religion. She’s gained research experience in chemistry and molecular biology and is active with the Newman Center. Both women are members of the American Medical Student Association. LaFoe chose a biology major, with a pre-med concentration and minors in STEM research and business. She’s also active with the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honors Fraternity, the STEP Scholar program and the Baptist Student Union.

The root interest in the medical field goes back years for both women. LaFoe has struggled with her eyesight since the age of five.

“Optometrists are a major part of my childhood. As soon as I would walk through those doors, I felt safe, knowing they would be able to help me see clearly,” she said. “I want to help people to see the world clearly, just like I have been helped.”

Constant visits to the doctor made LaFoe realize how valuable having specialists in the community can be. With Palmyra located in a rural area, those in need of specialized service often travel up to two hours for care. That is why she wants to return close to home after becoming an ophthalmologist.

“I may specialize in retinas due to the significant need in my community,” she said. “If there is an emergency with a retina currently, they have to send them to Columbia or St. Louis, which are hours away. I want to bring eyecare to them that is nearby and affordable.”

Firsthand experience also sparked Reid’s call to medicine. After being diagnosed with scoliosis, she eventually had to undergo an intensive spinal fusion. The compassion of the surgeon calmed her nerves and reaffirmed her career plans.

“My surgeon squatted beside my hospital bed, looked me in the eyes, and said, ‘When you are here, you are my kid. When you’re under my care, I’m going to treat you, I’m going to obsess over you as if you are my own child.’ This moment was profound. It is difficult to put into words, but I caught a glimpse of how precious the relationship is between a patient and their physician,” she said.

Reid and LaFoe have already taken one major step on their journey, and true to form, they did it together. They took the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in March in Kansas City. The test takes upwards of seven hours to complete and usually requires months of preparation. For Reid and LaFoe, this moment was one of the reasons they chose Truman.

“All of the courses I have taken specifically for the MCAT have helped make test prep much easier,” Reid said. “My professors have presented and tested over material in a way that emphasizes application and not memorization. This has forced me to study in a much different way than I did in high school, and it has proved to be very beneficial in the MCAT preparation.”

LaFoe also has nothing but praise for her Truman professors. Additionally, she credits Reid for her continual support throughout their MCAT prep, and their undergraduate experience in general.

“Lauren is the most supportive, positive and hardworking person I know. Whenever I feel down about something, especially medical-school related, she always reminds me that I have worked hard and that we got this,” LaFoe said. “We often share advice with each other about anything pertaining to our futures, like MCAT studying, available classes to take and opportunities to get involved in health care.”

Reid and LaFoe are on track to graduate in May 2025. Because they are focusing on different specialties, there is a good chance they might attend different medical schools. They are both planning to stay in the Midwest for school, and possibly for their careers. Wherever Reid and LaFoe ultimately end up, they will make their alma maters proud.