GRAND FORKS, N.D. — “The first week of medical school has me reflecting humbly on how fortunate I am to finally begin medical education,” admitted Grand Forks, N.D., native Madeline Comeau. “Working through our first patient case was a great start for developing those clinical skills we’ll need as physicians.”

A Grand Forks, N.D., native, Comeau is one of nearly 80 first-year medical students including several from the Upper Peninsula, who are members of the Doctor of Medicine Class of 2028, who began their journey to become physicians last week at the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences.

Unlike her cohorts, Comeau already has something of an inside track on the next four years.

“I just finished watching Kole complete his medical education at UND and was impressed with the early clinical exposure, patient-centered learning, and simulation training he received,” continued the two-time UND grad of her husband Dr. Kole Hermanson, who completed his M.D. program at UND last May. “Kole and I want to continue to practice medicine in North Dakota when we’re done with our training so UND was a natural fit for me.”

The first week for medical students is dedicated to orientation, including an introduction to UND’s nationally recognized, four-year, patient-centered learning curriculum where biomedical and clinical sciences are taught in the context of an interdisciplinary educational setting. Special emphasis is placed on students’ new roles and expectations of them as health professionals.

Orientation week concluded with a White Coat Ceremony last Friday, wherein students recited the Oath of Hippocrates and received their first white coats, which have been donated by the North Dakota Medical Association.

“I was incredibly excited to begin medical school in North Dakota, and it feels wonderful to finally be close to family and loved ones again,” added Fargo, N.D., native Marcela Hanson. “The first week has been fantastic! The faculty and other students and been so welcoming and helpful and really have solidified and reassured my decision to attend UND.”

Although she remains “open to any specialty,” Hanson has spent the past four years as a nurse in Wisconsin, focusing on cardiac care and labor and delivery. As such, she is especially interested in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology.

“I chose UND SMHS because of the outstanding reputation it has, as well as the tight knit community that is so prevalent here,” she said. “I knew I would get a strong foundational medical education along with having an immense amount of support. I also wanted to give back to the North Dakota community that raised me.”

Ranging in age from 20 to 31 years, and with an average age of 24, the vast majority of this year’s entering students are from North Dakota and Minnesota. The cohort comes to UND’s medical school with experience in an array of fields, including art history, biochemistry, biology, chemical engineering, chemistry, community nutrition, international studies, kinesiology, mathematics, physics, psychology, public health, and theatre arts.

Some of these first-year students already hold advanced degrees, including graduate degrees in athletic training, biomedical science, healthcare administration, microbiology, physiology, and public health.

Founded in 1905, the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences is North Dakota’s only medical college and the most comprehensive collection of health sciences programs in the state, graduating more than 300 physicians, physician assistants, physical and occupational therapists, medical lab scientists, athletic trainers, and public and Indigenous health professionals annually.

“Coming from a small town in Montana, UND felt like a great fit for me given the community-based experience and rural opportunities offered here,” concluded Glendive, Mont., native Ase Ackerman, who is thinking of specializing in either family medicine or sports medicine. “I was excited to start school here at UND. We were provided a large amount of information preparing us for the challenges ahead, but it’s been great and I feel well prepared to begin my medical education.”

U.P. students included in the UND M.D. Class of 2028 are as follows:

≤ Abigail Boehmer, Negaunee.

≤ Gabrielle Krzyske, Flat Rock.

≤ Brooke Miller, Hancock.