Alice Pulsipher’s path to medical school
JOPLIN, Mo. — Medical school is a rigorous schedule for any student – but one soon-to-be grad also had to face several challenges to even get to that point.
“My path to becoming a doctor wasn’t typical. I didn’t think that I could be a doctor. I mean, people like me don’t become doctors,” said Alice Pulsipher, KCU Joplin med student.
No one in her family had graduated college.
Her challenges started when Alice Pulsipher was 12 years old. Her parents’ divorce led to bankruptcy and homelessness. A teen pregnancy led to four children by the age of 23.
Her interest in medicine led to an MRI training program, during classwork they found a health issue.
“And so my doctor ordered a biopsy of the thyroid and I found that I had thyroid cancer,” said Pulsipher.
Caught early, it was successfully treated – paving the way for a future career.
“I literally applied to like 50 medical schools… I guess I’d never heard of Joplin before trying to apply to medical school,” said Pulsipher.
The whole family moved from their home in Arizona to Joplin.
But she failed the first year at KCU.
“I was working a full-time job and during medical school and trying to balance for kids. And it just wasn’t feasible,” said Pulsipher.
But Alice didn’t give up – restarting her freshman year passing the second time.
But tragedy struck her sophomore year when her husband was killed in a car crash.
“There’s this huge hole ripped in our lives,” said Pulsipher.
It was hard to see a path forward – but the help came.
Family friends opened their homes.
“People were bringing meals … helping take kids to and from school and my sister actually moved from Arizona to Joplin to help me out as well,” said Pulsipher.
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KCU gave Alice extra time when she needed it – and free counseling.
“I don’t know if she knows but my therapist is probably the main reason I’m still here today,” said Pulsipher.
Alice says her four children kept her going.
And she adds the Joplin community is a close second – the hometown that’s now permanent with a residency after graduation.
“It was my number one choice because of the support that I have received here this has become Joplin has now home and I am grateful to give back,” said Pulsipher.
