Earlier this summer, six Knox College pre-med students took part in the OSF Innovation Jump Simulation program in Peoria to prepare themselves for their future medical studies and careers. Over the course of two weeks, they attended lectures, skills courses, simulations, and focused learning sessions on the fundamentals of healthcare. 

Jump Simulation Education & Operations Manager Chris Larkner explained that the course is designed to give students the experience of a day in the life of a medical professional. 

“They will walk away with a knowledge set that is viable in med school. It really puts them a step ahead of most other med students,” Larkner said.

Knox students are selected annually to participate in Jump based on the quality and depth of their application, the proximity of the application to health professions programs, and a demonstrated interest in rural medicine or medicine in general as determined by a committee of Knox faculty and staff. These experiences are made possible thanks to the generous support of the DiSomma Family Foundation.

Anokhi Molligoda ’25 learned much about various medical fields, including radiology and the public health sector. She admits that, at this point, she isn’t certain which career path she wants to pursue. She says the Jump program helped her explore her options and narrow down which areas work best for her as she continues her Knox education.

“It’s really a glimpse of what a medical profession can be,” Molligoda said. “Learning these different procedures and medications has taught me a lot.” 

Each student who completed the program earned a certificate of completion, which Larker says is a valuable asset for medical school applications and future job resumes. 

For Chimdinma Aki ’25, there was tremendous value in experiencing the healthcare field from a first-hand perspective. She says seeing the medical professionals involved in the course tackle each lesson like a real crisis helped give weight to the teachings. Aki hopes to apply her education to a career in pediatrics, specifically in war-zone areas across the world. She wants to help children who she says are among the most in need of medical care.

“Children don't know what's going on and need a helping hand more than anyone. That’s what I strive to do,” Aki said. 

Precious Odejimi ’25 entered the program hoping it would help her decide on a career path. She hoped that the insight gained would give her an edge when attempting the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) later in her education. ”I feel like this has given me a lot of critical thinking tools to use moving forward, tools I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she said.