Work History: an auto shop, a hospital in the East Bay Sought & Found: county clinical facilities and room to explore interests outside of medicine Enjoys exploring: medical humanities and social science

Brian Mohlenhoff

In high school, many people were wondering if Brian was headed for nowhere. He barely graduated with his classmates. He had been working in an auto shop for some time. Eventually, he started taking college classes, at first only at night.

"I've been thinking about that time in my life a lot lately. I remember vividly starting college. I had always believed anybody could do what he wanted to do, if only he tried hard enough. I needed to prove to myself that I was right."

It surprised him how much he loved college. He had disliked high school and had been unable to concentrate on his studies. In college, he could pursue his own courses, at his own pace, and there was an "opportunity to achieve some sort of personal growth."

Brian started to work at ValleyCare Medical Center in Pleasanton, and that's where "things fell into place" for him. "Here I was in this environment, one of the most dramatic in the developed world – it grabbed me on an emotional level. I had never been as inspired before. Every day I thought, 'what am I going to learn today?'"

It was a big step when he decided to leave his job and pursue a degree in nursing full-time. An even bigger step was the realization that what he really wanted to do was premed. "My dad was one of first people I talked to. I was scared to admit that I wanted to try this. But his attitude was, sure you can do it!"

Brian’s main criteria in looking for a medical school was that it should have county clinical facilities and that the school had room to explore interests outside of medicine. During his undergrad programs, he loved his studies in the social sciences and humanities.

"I need to use that side of my brain, not just the scientific part. I've been going to a lot of medical anthropology meetings and lectures and really enjoying it."

He wouldn't want to give up any of his past experiences. "The path that brought me here has given me a perspective I wouldn't have otherwise."