Postbaccalaureate degree, 2022.
Attending Tulane University School of Medicine, Class of 2027
Came to Elms after spending 21 years in the U.S. Air Force as a military attorney in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps
Christopher Leavey graduated from Elms in 2022 after completing the pre-medical post- baccalaureate program. He enrolled in Elms at age 51 and after 21 years in the Air Force, serving as a military attorney with the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. Leavey said that from the time he was a boy, he always wanted to be a doctor. But his undergraduate grades at another college decades ago were poor, and he moved on to other dreams.
A few years after retiring from the Air Force and looking for his next adventure, Leavey heard about the Postbaccalaureate Program at Elms. Through its Pre-Medical Studies Certificate Program, he could both take the classes required for medical school and try to raise his GPA.
“When I discovered that being a doctor was still a possibility, my family and I discussed the ramifications of such a decision. I had a great job, was making good money – we would be risking a lot and taking on a lot of debt for just the chance to get into medical school. But being a doctor had always been my dream. We decided to go for it. I quit my job, began EMT school, and enrolled at Elms. By focusing entirely on school and gaining clinical experience, I was able to complete the program in a single year.”
“I was a little apprehensive about going back to college. I was so much older than the average student. I have 3 kids in their late 20s,” he said. “When I first started back in class, I believe everyone thought I was a professor. I didn’t know what we would have in common.”
He found his concerns unfounded. He said everyone, and in particular his classmates, was welcoming and supportive. “It was great. It was very collaborative, with everyone willing to help one another. We were all focused on all of us being successful,” he said.
At Elms, he said, the faculty was excellent. “Every teacher I had was good to very good. And there were a couple that were just outstanding,” he said. “The one thing that really stood out to me was each professor absolutely loved and was enthusiastic about their respective subject.”
“I was impressed with everything. Dr. Janet Williams is awesome at running that program. She gets you the classes you need, and wants you to get the best grades you can. She also provides constructive but critical feedback and recommendations on medical school applications, MCAT preparation, personal statements, letters of recommendations – she shares her decades of knowledge in the medical school application process in the hope of seeing you succeed.”
“She was phenomenal. She was the primary reason I ultimately chose Elms. Right now my family and I are preparing to move to New Orleans so that I can attend Tulane University School of Medicine. Elms played a critical role in me continuing to pursue my dream. I am very happy with my decision to attend the Elms Premedical Post-Bacc Program.”