Christina Wade ’25 discovered that her dream of attending medical school was attainable. With the support of faculty mentors and opportunities to build knowledge and skills, Wade used her Gettysburg College education to explore how to “learn something out of anything.”
When Christina Wade ’25 began her college search, she wanted to study at a small college where she could form close relationships and be known by name. She found this connection at Gettysburg College with its community-centered campus, from her STEM Scholars cohort who became friends to professors and College staff who are now mentors.
Wade, a health sciences major from Charlotte Hall, Maryland, believes the strength of Gettysburg’s academic programs and diverse co-curricular activities gave her multiple avenues to learn more about herself. Here, she discovered her purpose, immersing herself in a personalized education. Gettysburg allowed her to build leadership and communication skills she’ll rely on at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where she’ll begin her M.D. studies this fall.
‘Learn something out of anything’
At Gettysburg, Wade’s introductory biology and health sciences courses, coupled with volunteer and job shadowing experiences, got her interested in the field of medicine.
“Once I learned that the physician is the only member of the health care team who is responsible for understanding the complex human biology of disease and contributing to research to advance medicine, I was sold on medical school,” she said.
Through the STEM Scholars program, she also worked closely with Biology Prof. István Urcuyo, who mentored her and helped her develop confidence to ask questions and receive feedback.
“The most important people in your life are the close relationships that you have. That’s something I’ve really been able to experience at Gettysburg.”
– Christina Wade ’25
Before participating in Cross-Disciplinary Science Institute (X-SIG) summer research with Biology Prof. Jennifer Powell the summer before her senior year, she pursued individualized research with Health Sciences Prof. Josef Brandauer, who helped her develop the discipline and focus necessary to become a lifelong learner. Brandauer taught her first anatomy and physiology course at Gettysburg during the fall of her sophomore year, through which she learned effective time management and study skills. During her junior year, Wade served as a Peer Learning Associate (PLA) for Brandauer’s First-Year Seminar, Are You Smart?
“It’s been a long working relationship over three years, and he’s been a very good advisor and mentor not only for MCAT and medical school applications but also helping me build the confidence that helped me take the MCAT, apply to medical schools, and do these interviews,” said Wade. “What I really got out of Prof. Brandauer’s mentorship during my time at Gettysburg was learning how to learn and be somebody who can learn something out of anything—finding the skills of active learning. He taught me to ‘trust the evidence’ of past success when you feel like you can’t do something.”
Wade believes every student finds people within the Gettysburg community with whom they can surround themselves to grow personally and professionally. For Wade, she also developed a close bond with members of the Facilities Services team who made Gettysburg feel like home, such as Denise Orndoff, the housekeeper for Wade’s residence hall who greets her every morning, and Paula Coscia, who works in the Bullet Hole and surprised Wade with a birthday cake.
Developing by doing
In preparation for medical school, Wade leveraged campus resources and co-curricular activities to round out her experience, advancing her skills and expanding her Gettysburg Network. An avid softball player growing up, Wade was motivated to seek new learning experiences.
“I wanted to pursue the skills you gain from playing sports in another way,” she said. “I wanted to have a more diverse experience in college.”
Stepping into the heart of the student experience, Wade pursued a Leadership Certificate through the Garthwait Leadership Center (GLC) in her first year and later worked for GLC Executive Director Andy Hughes as a Leadership Educator. During her final semester at Gettysburg, Wade was the project lead for the annual Gettysburg College Leadership Showcase and was a featured speaker at the event’s gala. The Showcase highlighted what leaders have learned and accomplished throughout the year, while honoring students, faculty, staff, and alumni for their contributions to leadership for public purpose.
Within the Office of Residential Education, she became a Community Advisor during her sophomore year, and then advanced to a Residence Coordinator her junior and senior years, managing the student staff for the first-year residence halls in Huber and Hanson halls.
Her service to the Student Life Committee provided another firsthand encounter with leadership and collaboration in a professional setting. Working with Public Policy Chair Anne S. Douds and the refugee resettlement project opened her mind to the needs of people beyond Gettysburg’s campus.
Through the Center for Career Engagement (CCE), she also participated twice in the career exploration visit to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, during which she was able to leverage the Gettysburg Network and connect with alumni who have gone to medical school.
Achieving limitless potential
Reflecting on her four years learning and growing, Wade experienced firsthand how students can discover a breadth of resources, endless self-exploration opportunities, and caring, supportive people at Gettysburg College.
In October 2023, she received a scholarship from the Myra Taylor Herron fund through the Office of Multicultural Engagement, which honors the legacy of Myra Taylor Herron ’67, the first African American woman to graduate from Gettysburg. Thanks to this generous support, Wade was able to apply her scholarship toward the costs she incurred taking the MCAT.
“This scholarship allowed me to reach my full potential,” she said. “It’s really important for Gettysburg to offer assistance to first-generation and minority students because it gives equal access to be able to do things that you couldn’t otherwise do.”
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By Michael Vyskocil
Photos by Sofia Gutierrez ’26 and Amber Tetmeyer ’27
Posted: 05/06/25
