With graduation just around the corner, the members of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at 性视界传媒 Class of 2025 took a moment to reflect on their medical school journey. The class of 2025 commencement and academic hooding ceremony will be on May 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. For those unable to attend the event in person, a will be available.
Nicholas Burpee
Matched in General Surgery
Medical school has been one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of my life. I gained a ton of knowledge, developed real clinical skills, and grew in ways I never expected 鈥 both personally and professionally. It was challenging, no doubt, but I genuinely enjoyed what I was doing day in and day out.
Some moments were surreal, like working on the labor and delivery floor at Sunrise Hospital 鈥攖he very place I was born 29 years ago. This journey has been full of growth, gratitude, and a deepening sense of purpose that makes me excited for residency and a career of service.
Jared Diaz
Matched in Family Medicine
Medical school was not anything like I expected. I fully experienced every emotion that existed within just the first month.
But after these four years, I wouldn鈥檛 trade the growth, the wisdom, and the friendships I鈥檝e made through this journey for anything, unless that anything was clearing all of my student loans.
Brisa Escobedo
Matched in General Surgery
These past four years have challenged me in ways I never could have imagined. Every experience and person I鈥檝e met has helped shape me into a more confident and compassionate physician.
I鈥檝e learned that resilience isn鈥檛 about being the strongest, it鈥檚 about showing up for your team and your patients every day even when it鈥檚 hard. Most importantly, I鈥檝e discovered that my purpose in medicine is rooted in human connection, and it鈥檚 those moments with patients 鈥 especially those whose backgrounds reflect my own 鈥 that remind me why I chose this path.
Jessica Fields
Matched in General Surgery
Medical school has been an incredible journey of growth, self-discovery, and transformation. Along the way, I鈥檝e learned the power of resilience, the importance of prioritizing wellness, and, most importantly, to truly believe in myself and my potential.
While this path was far from easy, it shaped me into the physician I aspire to be, and for that, I鈥檓 deeply grateful. What carried me through was always remembering my 鈥渨hy,鈥 which is to become the best doctor I can be for my future patients.
Gemma Lagasca
Matched in Family Medicine
I remember coming to Second Look and being blown away by how welcoming and supportive the school felt. Medical school has been one of the hardest things I鈥檝e ever done. There were challenging moments, but the community I built 鈥 with classmates, friends, and faculty 鈥 lifted me up and brought so many meaningful highs.
As graduation approaches, I feel a mix of emotions: sadness to leave, excitement for what鈥檚 ahead, and deep gratitude for how far we鈥檝e come. I鈥檝e grown so much through this experience, and I鈥檓 trying to appreciate these final moments with the people who made it all matter.
Hannah Murawsky
Matched in Internal Medicine
Looking back on medical school, it's had its challenges, but more than anything it鈥檚 been an incredible journey of growth, both professionally and personally. Over the past four years, I鈥檝e had the chance to develop my clinical skills, nurture a sense of lifelong curiosity, and see medicine in action in ways I never could鈥檝e imagined as a pre-med.
During clerkship especially, I found myself constantly inspired 鈥 not just by the science and innovation, but by the privilege of witnessing the full spectrum of the human experience. My time in medical school has also helped shape who I am as a future physician and as a person. Most importantly, I鈥檝e also gained lifelong friendships; ones that have supported me through the ups and downs, and that I know will continue to be a meaningful part of my life well beyond graduation.
Mayra Repetto
Matched in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Medical school wasn鈥檛 easy, but it was full of moments that made me more certain of why I chose this path. Every challenge deepened my responsibility to advocate for my community and care for patients with honesty, empathy, and heart.
I鈥檓 grateful for the people who lifted me when I doubted myself and believed in the future I couldn鈥檛 always see. This journey didn鈥檛 just shape me into the physician I wanted to be, it really gave me a purpose bigger than myself!
Daniel Villegas
Matched in Interventional Radiology
Over the past four years, I鈥檝e built friendships that I know will last a lifetime. I鈥檓 incredibly grateful for the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a physician, and I look forward to growing alongside my colleagues as we develop into exceptional physicians.
