Future physician Savannah Kahl is finishing her degree in biochemistry with a secondary major in Spanish in Professions this December before applying to medical school. The Spokane Valley native says her WSU experience has fueled both her curiosity for science and her desire to help others.
From challenging biochemistry courses and undergraduate research to singing in the WSU Concert Choir, Kahl has made the most of her time as a Coug — and she’s ready to take the next step toward a career in medicine.
What initially drew you to your major?
I had a great AP Biology teacher in high school who ignited my passion for the life sciences. (Shout out to Mr. Hill!) When I came to college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do within the life sciences, but I eventually gravitated toward biochemistry because the science of enzymes was really fascinating. Nature’s homemade biological machines that work for us every day. I ended up choosing pre-medicine as my main track because that combines my fascination of biological machinery with my love for helping others.
Who has been the most influential mentor or professor during your time at WSU?
I think my most influential professor has been Dr. Lisa Gloss. She was my biochemistry professor for a year. Her classes pushed me to be a better student. They were very difficult, but her encouragement emboldened me to try my best. She ultimately increased my academic confidence and taught me it’s OK to not know everything.
Have you had any opportunities to work in a lab or conduct research while at WSU?
I worked as an undergraduate researcher for Dr. Xiofeng Guo’s geochemistry lab for two years. I worked on his solid-state Actinides and Lanthanides mixing project. Specifically, we were looking at how Lanthanide phosphates were mixed in a solid form at the atomic level. We wanted to see if there were patterns to this mixing in the hopes of developing a model for complex mixing systems, which would be a valuable first step to utilizing more impure rare earth elements. This research made me more aware of how valuable materials research is to medicine. Because many medical devices use rare earth elements, being able to source more from the Earth would greatly reduce REE prices and make medical equipment less expensive to produce.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about majoring in a field within the College of Veterinary Medicine?
I would advise anyone considering a major in the College of Veterinary Medicine to first research what kind of jobs their major would net them after graduation. If you major in biochemistry for example, are you interested in biotechnology jobs? Or do you want to work as a medical laboratory tech, where a microbiology-focused major would benefit you more? Starting with your job interests and working backward to what major would benefit you most is very helpful when making that big decision.
What’s your favorite thing about WSU?
My favorite thing about WSU is that it’s easy to make connections with people here. There is no sense of elitism that is present in other universities, but rather you feel like a part of a big team. From professors to fellow students, everybody is working together to achieve their dreams. Cougs help Cougs!
What are your post-graduation plans?
I plan to take a gap year after graduation to apply to medical school. In the meantime, I will continue working as a phlebotomist/lab assistant to get more medical experience. My degree has built a solid foundation of knowledge in both biological systems and current research techniques that will aid me in my MCAT preparation, and that I will continue to use/build upon after I get into medical school.
What hobbies or extracurricular activities have you enjoyed at WSU?
During my time at WSU, I have regularly been a member of WSU Concert Choir. It’s been fun to take a break every day from STEM and sing in a choir with other people. You can take the class multiple times, so taking it almost every semester has given me a friend group that I’ve known for a long time. I highly recommend getting involved in the music program even if you’re majoring in STEM. It’s a great way to make friends and relax the daily stress from the day.
What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that most people wouldn’t guess?
I am big into using Linux. I’m a firm believer in owning your operating system, and both my Kindle and my Computer run versions of Linux. It’s very customizable, I can run pretty much any Windows game with Proton, and I love having a sense of renewed ownership over my electronics!