Recent FSU Grad Now Successful First-Year Med School Student

Jacob Wilson loves science. But he wasn’t always so certain of his career path. “I started out wanting to study mechanical engineering like my father, but that was way too much math for me!”

A 2022 graduate of Frostburg State University, Wilson earned his bachelor of science degree in health science. Now in his first year of medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM), Wilson can’t imagine himself anywhere else.

“I just fell in love with science, so I knew I wanted to do something in that field.” Then he took an anatomy course in high school, and that’s when being a medical doctor just clicked. He humorously recalls being the student who brought their own dissection kit to class.

“I always encourage people to be open minded. As you progress through your education, find what you love and pursue that dream.”

Wilson worked very closely with FSU professors, Dr. Karen Keller and Dr. Matthew Crawford, to complete all of the necessary prerequisites for medical school, including the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), early enough to be on track to enter a program immediately following graduation.

“My first five semesters at FSU were packed with all of the courses I needed so that in the spring of my junior year I took the MCAT, which is earlier than most people take it.” The average person applying to medical school typically takes a gap year just to study for the MCAT and prepare applications.

“The average age on campus at WVSOM is 27,” says Wilson. “I’m the second youngest in my class, and that was a big eye opener for me.”

“That’s part of the reason that the health science major was created,” says Dr. Keller, FSU biology professor. “We want to get interested students paired up with the right advisors to make sure that they know that applying to medical school is a lengthy process.”

“We make students take the courses at FSU that will help them not only get into the professional programs that they want, but also to do well in them once they’re there,” says Dr. Keller.  “We want them to succeed.”

And WVSOM really likes FSU grads recalls Dr. Keller. “I was sitting with the President of WVSOM, James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., during a dinner, and he asked if I was the advisor that sent them Jacob. I said that I was, and he asked us to send busloads of him.”

Wilson applied to nine osteopathic schools and 20 allopathic medical schools. WVSOM was his choice. “There are pros and cons to every program, but at WVSOM, the entire campus is designated and devoted to our learning. And it’s actually a campus, not just an isolated three-story building ON a campus.”

WVSOM’s anatomy lab was another huge draw for Wilson, who also admits to taking an advanced anatomy course as an undergrad at FSU on his own time just to supplement his learning. “It was very challenging, but the content was great!”

In addition to WVSOM’s anatomy lab and campus environment, Wilson enjoys the school’s flexibility. “One of the fantastic avenues and resources that WVSOM offers is the ability to attend lectures in-person, live but virtually, or to watch an on-demand recording so students can learn from the method that is best for them.”

At WVSOM, Wilson is currently studying hormones and the endocrine system. His goal is to eventually practice pediatric medicine, specializing in general medicine, internal medicine or cardiology.

“I’ll be the first to say that there are some really intense days and days that there is literally just too much to study,” recalls the first-year med student. “But we practice medicine. We don’t master medicine. You’re always a student in the medical field, and you’re always improving your skills to help your patients more.”

Wilson has had underclassmen see him now and tell him how impressed they are that he is living everything he told them about during his time as a student success mentor at FSU. He attributes much of that to Frostburg’s programs and professors. “FSU has a quality program with excellent instructors who not only know their field, but who are on the cutting-edge of research in their field.”

Back at FSU for the first time since graduation to host a seminar for biochemistry seniors and cell biology students, Wilson compiled all that he’s learned so far to give students some helpful hints and tricks to make learning some tough information just a little easier.

“I would tell younger students considering pursuing a career in medicine that it’s worth it. It’s worth the struggles.” Wilson’s good advice continues, “You will have bad days, and there is a lot of pressure with very intense coursework, but that moment that you change someone’s life, that moment that you’re there for them, and you know you made an impact, it just makes it all worth it.”

He will have to complete four years of med school at WVSOM and then a residency, which he hopes to complete at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital or at UPMC Western Maryland, before we can officially call him Dr. Wilson, but he doesn’t mind. “It’s really awesome that I can honestly say that I’m loving it. There’s no mask. There’s no sugar coating it.”

“I loved all of my classes at Frostburg State, but there as a piece that was missing. Once I got to medical school, I realized that it was the missing piece. Frostburg was a huge steppingstone that set me up for success, and now I’m where I belong.”