Buffalo, NY - Julia Schurr ’23 came to Canisius University as soccer player. She left with an ambitious goal — to become a doctor committed to global service.
This fall, Schurr started a five-year Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health (MD-MPH) dual degree program at the Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix, AZ.
She will attend as an Arrupe Global Scholar — a prestigious program honoring social justice advocate Pedro Arrupe, SJ, who was committed to social justice and caring for people living in poverty.
Real-life experiences that make a difference for medical school
To earn a coveted spot in the program, Schurr’s application and essays stood out among other prospects because each highlighted her immersive experiences as an undergrad at Canisius.
“Julia was willing to embrace a lot of different opportunities along the way to medical school to fully develop herself as a person,” says Allyson Backstrom, PhD, director of the Dr. George E. Schreiner ’43 Pre-Medical Center at Canisius. “The really engaged students like Julia pull all those pieces together to build an education that goes beyond the requirements.”
Backstrom added that the time management skills and stamina Schurr developed as a student-athlete will serve her well in medical school.
In addition to four years of Division I soccer, Schurr, a psychology major, joined several student clubs in pre-med, social justice and public health. She completed two pre-med internships and wrote her All-College Honors Program thesis about the risks that health disparities pose during pregnancy. Schurr’s research went into practice at Buffalo’s Jericho Road Community Health Center’s Priscilla Project, where she volunteered as a birth mentor to a Syrian refugee, supporting her through postpartum care after the birth of her twins.
“One of the reasons I was able to juggle so much was the support of my communities,” says Schurr. “I was able to rely on the support and encouragement of teammates, classmates and professors, who all helped me prioritize meaningful experiences. That’s a skill I can see being helpful in medical school.”
Gap years that matter for medical school
After graduating from Canisius and before starting medical school, Schurr spent just over two years immersed in learning and service, along with some well-deserved relaxation.
While studying to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), she worked as a medical assistant. She also served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corp at an under-resourced K-8 Catholic school in San Diego. While there, Schurr worked in the school’s community resource center, where she solidified her commitment to integrating social justice into her medical career.
“That experience allowed me to see the obstacles people face outside of medical care that impact their health, and in turn, their care,” she explained.
She also made time for self-care, traveling and backpacking with family and friends, and creating lasting memories to carry into the exciting next chapter of her life.
Schurr says she’ll continue to let her community, her values and her heart guide her.
“I’m open to seeing what I’m drawn to as I go through the program,” she says. “It’s part of why this path is so interesting.”
