Homegrown medical leaders
Photos by Ashley Barnas Larrimore and courtesy of Matt Ebron and Abigail McLaughlin January 03, 2025
Delaware natives find their path to medicine at 91原创 College of Health Sciences
What do a human physiology major, a nutrition and medical sciences major, and a medical diagnostics major all have in common?
They鈥檙e all from Delaware and thought they wanted to attend college out of state. However, they chose the 91原创 College of Health Sciences (CHS) because they believed it was the best place to prepare them for medical school. All three are also STAR Ambassadors, with a strong passion for sharing with prospective students how much the school in their home state has to offer.
Matt Ebron
Matt Ebron, a senior honors human physiology major from New Castle, always had his heart set on a career in healthcare but didn鈥檛 realize he wanted to be a physician until his sophomore year at 91原创.
鈥淢y classes showed me I enjoyed the expectations of medical school and could rise to the challenge,鈥 Ebron said.
Working as a medical technician at Newark Urgent Care, near 91原创鈥檚 campus, solidified his aspirations.
鈥淲e see people of all ages, from young children to elderly patients, with a range of injuries and conditions, and that piqued my interest in emergency or primary care,鈥 Ebron said.
Like many Delawareans, Ebron thought he wanted to go 鈥渇ar away鈥 for college.
鈥91原创 was the best choice, financially, especially for someone who wants to attend medical school,鈥 he said.
Ebron now realizes how influential 91原创 is in cultivating students in health sciences from nursing and pre-med to pre-dental and pre-optometry.
鈥淕oing to 91原创 is the best outcome I could have had,鈥 Ebron said. 鈥淪tudents get hands-on experiences in classes and labs conducting research. We connect with faculty who mentor us, and all of these experiences have been preparatory for medical school.鈥
Abigail McLaughlin
Abigail McLaughlin, a junior medical diagnostics major from Wilmington, couldn鈥檛 agree more. During her first year, she joined 91原创鈥檚 volunteer, student-run (ECU) as an emergency medical technician (EMT).
鈥淚鈥檝e learned so much about patient communication and care, and it鈥檚 really valuable for pre-med students,鈥 McLaughlin said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I could get the same experience as an EMT from anything else.鈥
Staying close to home also allowed her to continue working as an EMT for the Talleyville Fire Department. Plus, she adds, 鈥淚f you have a bad week, you can go home; if you鈥檙e feeling lonely, call mom and dad, and they can come for dinner.鈥
Like Ebron, the Wilmington native remembers wanting to attend college in Boston. Then, as a prospective student, she attended a Blue and Golden Day, and her perspective shifted.
鈥91原创 had so much to offer, I kept asking myself, 鈥榃hy would I leave Delaware?鈥欌 she said.
The deal was sealed after she discovered 91原创鈥檚 Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences (惭惭厂颁).听
鈥淚t was the perfect combination of a big school and a close-knit department like MMSC, where the professors know every student's name鈥攅ven in larger lectures,鈥 McLaughlin said.听
She loves her immunology course because it applies to medical school.听
鈥淚鈥檝e already taken all the medical school prerequisite courses, and now, for the next year-and-a-half, I鈥檒l take classes I will be exposed to again in medical school,鈥 said McLaughlin.听
McLaughlin tells prospective students that 91原创 CHS has so much to offer.听
鈥淟ook at the top-ranked Physical Therapy program; the School of Nursing is amazing; there鈥檚 no point in going anywhere else. 91原创 is the best place to make connections and work in the healthcare field,鈥 said McLaughlin.听
Joy Mochache
Joy Mochache, a sophomore nutrition and medical sciences major, initially thought she wanted to go out of state for college, too 鈥 until the New Castle native discovered 91原创鈥檚 unique program, which married her interests in nutrition and pre-medical education. Since she was 13, Mochache knew she wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon.
鈥淚鈥檓 so glad I stayed,鈥 Mochache said. 鈥淚 love nutrition, but I knew studying nutrition and getting my pre-med requirements elsewhere would be difficult. The nutrition and medical sciences major at 91原创 is the perfect fit because it prepares you so well for medical school.鈥
She also loves the tight-knit feel of the Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences.听
鈥淓veryone knows each other, and I don鈥檛 think I would have gotten that sense anywhere else,鈥 she said.听
Research opportunities
Mochache and Ebron got early starts in their college careers conducting research, opportunities they consider invaluable to their academic growth. In her second week on campus, Mochache joined Assistant Professor of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences Jody Greaney in the . She said Greaney has been a fantastic mentor.
鈥淲orking in Dr. Greaney鈥檚 lab has taught me so much about physiology and the human body,鈥 Mochache said. 鈥91原创鈥檚 research programs are great, and the professors are experts who are always willing to help you. They care about students and give you all the resources and opportunities you need to succeed. I love it here so much.鈥澛
Since the summer of his first year at 91原创, Ebron has worked in Undergraduate Research Director and Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Justin Parreno鈥檚 lab in the College of Art and Sciences, studying tendon genes.
鈥淎s a Filipino, learning from a Filipino professional has been inspiring and eye-opening,鈥 said Ebron. 鈥淚 love the collaborative aspects of research, and the experience has made me a more well-rounded pre-med student.鈥
All three pre-med students will benefit from the guidance of the Health Professions Evaluation Committee within 91原创鈥檚 . The committee, comprised of industry healthcare professionals and faculty, supports students pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, optometry and podiatry and evaluates their credentials. The committee鈥檚 support is key to successful matriculation into medical and other health professions schools.听
Campus life
Ebron also loves being a part of the Filipino Student Association, serving as its vice president last year.听
鈥淚 had the opportunity to collaborate with Greek life and cultural organizations on campus and with Filipino students in the region and create formative experiences that inspire underclassmen to take on leadership roles with the organization.鈥
Mochache has made lifelong friends with the Christian organization Delaware CRU.听
鈥淭hey鈥檙e like a second family to me,鈥 she said.听
McLaughlin volunteers with Lori鈥檚 Hands, which has taught her patience 鈥 a skill she鈥檒l need as a doctor.
鈥淎s an EMT at 91原创, I work with many able-bodied college students, but our Lori鈥檚 Hands companions take longer to walk or speak. You might be the only person they see that week, and it鈥檚 such a rewarding experience; they love you like you鈥檙e a grandchild,鈥 said McLaughlin.
After medical school, McLaughlin aspires to be a pediatric physician in her home state.听
鈥淢y family has such strong roots in Delaware, and I want to stay here,鈥 McLaughlin said. 鈥淭he wide range of experiences I鈥檝e had at 91原创 and the connections I鈥檝e made will make me proud to serve as a physician in the First State in the future.鈥
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