The Lubbock Christian University (LCU) Office of Health Professions and the B. Ward Lane College of Science and Health Professions recognized 22 students at the annual Health Professions Celebration Dinner.
The dinner honored 22 students who will soon graduate or have already graduated from LCU and who have been accepted into professional school to continue their education into various health-related fields. Five of those students were accepted into the highly selective Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine.
“LCU has a rich history of successfully preparing students for acceptance into graduate professional programs in the healthcare fields and this year is no exception,” shared Dr. Toby Rogers, Dean of the College of Science and Health Professions. “I am extremely proud of the 22 students representing a variety of healthcare professions that have been accepted into their respective graduate professional programs. Of the 22 students that have been accepted, 60 interviews and 32 acceptances were awarded, meaning many of these students had their choice from multiple programs to select from.
The event also featured LCU Alumna Dr. Stephanie (Vander-Plas) Hale (’11) as the guest speaker. Dr. Stephanie Hale, MD, MEd, FAAP is a neonatologist and clinician-educator at Texas Children's Hospital and an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She is passionate about clinical education, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Dr. Hale is a proud graduate of Lubbock Christian University, where she earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Humanities (specializing in Biological Sciences) and Biology. She went on to attend medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where she also completed her pediatric residency and served as Chief Resident before pursuing a neonatology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. During fellowship, she earned a master’s in education from the University of Houston, furthering her commitment to medical education and faculty development.
LCU continues to demonstrate its strong track record of student success, particularly into professional schools. Over the past 10 Years, LCU graduates have been accepted to veterinary school 72% of the time—nearly 7 times the national average. Similarly, dental school acceptance rates during that span have been 65% (23% above the national average), physical therapy school rates have been 89% (46% above the national average), occupational therapy school rates has been 97% (120% above the national average), and physician assistant 88% (nearly 3 times the national average).
“This is a testament to the quality of students we have at LCU, and the dedicated mentoring that occurs in our programs,” emphasized Dr. Rogers. “This year alone, the LCU Faculty and Office of Health Professions have provided monthly professional development seminars, mock interviews, annual academic reviews, scholarships for entrance exam preparation, support for undergraduate research efforts, and funds for travel to professional programs, among other initiatives.”
“Many of this year’s accepted students were already graduated, but still utilized the resources the OHP offers, showing our dedication to continuing to engage our alumni,” shared Michaela Yandell, Coordinator of the Office of Health Professions and Professor of Natural Sciences.
Dr. Rogers added, “When pre-health professions students come to LCU, they can expect to have access to enriching experiences alongside talented, dedicated, and caring faculty that will provide them great opportunities to grow professionally as they pursue their calling.