Madison Studstill ('19)
Master's of Health Science Student, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
At 51社区, Madison Studstill (鈥�19) was prepared academically and spiritually for her graduate studies at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. Studstill graduated with a biology degree from Union and is now in an accelerated one-year program at Johns Hopkins to gain her master鈥檚 of health science in biochemistry and molecular biology.
Originally from Collierville, Tennessee, Studstill came to Union on a soccer scholarship. As a freshman, Studstill said she was not confident in her faith, but her experiences in the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and as captain of the women鈥檚 soccer team her junior year helped her open up and grow.
As an undergraduate, Studstill was not sure if she wanted to pursue medical school or research after college. Her advisers encouraged her to apply for graduate school, and she decided to apply to Johns Hopkins, not expecting to be accepted. She thought, 鈥淚鈥檓 just going to throw my hat into the best graduate school in the country. Why not?鈥�
After she had been accepted to several schools and had settled on attending Ole Miss, she found out she was accepted to Johns Hopkins. She and her mother visited Baltimore, and Studstill was impressed with the faculty and decided she wanted to study there.
At Union, Studstill conducted her undergraduate research project with Esther Choi, assistant professor of biology, on how yeast infections in pregnant women can affect neonatal or premature babies. Studstill discovered a passion for neonatal babies and emergency medicine. At Johns Hopkins, she is currently doing research with an OB/GYN and working on a certificate in maternal and child health. Once she gains her master鈥檚 degree, Studstill plans to attend medical school and become a neonatal doctor who also conducts research.
Union gave Studstill a good academic foundation for her graduate studies, she said. After talking with her classmates who studied in larger schools, Studstill is thankful for Union鈥檚 small class sizes and close relationships with professors.
鈥淯nion gave me that baseline knowledge and one-on-one attention that bigger schools wouldn鈥檛 give you,鈥� Studstill said. 鈥淭he professors actually know you. You鈥檙e not just a number.鈥�
Union also prepared Studstill to stand firm in her beliefs, especially concerning abortion. Johns Hopkins is a secular institution, and most of Studstill鈥檚 peers and colleagues are pro-choice. Studstill鈥檚 time at Union gave her the courage to stand up and respectfully share her beliefs on the value of human life and the science that supports her beliefs.
鈥淯nion was definitely the best place for me to grow as a Christ-follower, a confident woman and an academic scholar before being placed in a pressure-filled environment,鈥� Studstill said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more thankful for every faculty member and student who poured into me over those four years.鈥�