My decision to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine is rooted in a deep commitment to healthcare and a desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. Growing up in South Jersey, I witnessed the profound challenges my family faced when my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. His battle with the disease—and the emotional and financial toll it took on us—shaped my early understanding of the healthcare system and revealed the critical importance of compassionate, patient-centered care. That experience didn’t just deepen my empathy for patients and their families—it also ignited a sense of purpose that continues to guide me. My path to medicine was not linear, but every step was intentional. I pursued my undergraduate degree at Ursinus College, where I graduated magna cum laude with Honors in Biology. I was honored to receive the Henry P. Laughlin M.D. Award, presented to the student who made the greatest contribution to their class and college, as well as the Laughlin Award for excellence in academics, athletics, and social engagement. These achievements reflect my dedication to hard work and perseverance. But it was my experiences beyond the classroom—volunteering at free clinics, mentoring students, and participating in a medical mission trip abroad—that truly affirmed my calling. Through these interactions, I witnessed the transformative power of skilled, compassionate healthcare and knew I wanted to be the kind of physician who sees and treats the whole person. After college, I pursued a Master’s degree in Biological and Physical Sciences, further solidifying my academic foundation in preparation for medical school. I graduated with distinction and received the Law and Ethics Award, recognizing my commitment to professionalism and integrity in healthcare—values I carry with me every day. Choosing osteopathic medicine felt like a natural extension of my vision. At Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York, I’ve been able to combine rigorous scientific training with the holistic, patient-focused philosophy of osteopathy. I have come to deeply value the osteopathic tenets that emphasize the body’s interconnected systems, preventive care, and the integration of mental, emotional, and social well-being. These principles mirror my own beliefs about what healthcare should be. Looking ahead, I hope to return to South Jersey to serve the community that raised me. I am committed to providing accessible, high-quality care to underserved populations, particularly those facing systemic and financial barriers to healthcare. My long-term goal is to establish a community-based internal medicine practice that incorporates osteopathic principles, preventive medicine, and patient education. I want to empower individuals to take control of their health, while building relationships rooted in trust and respect. Ultimately, my journey into medicine has been defined by resilience, compassion, and a desire to blend science with human connection. Becoming an osteopathic internal medicine physician will allow me to fulfill this mission—to care for the whole patient and to make a lasting difference in the lives of those I serve. I carry with me the lessons of my father’s illness, the strength of my family, and the unwavering belief that healthcare can—and should—be more personal, more equitable, and more healing.

My name is Aliyah Stephens, and I am currently a medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York. My decision to pursue medicine is deeply personal and rooted in service. Growing up in South Jersey, I watched my father battle lung cancer, a diagnosis that changed the course of my life. The emotional and financial toll of his illness opened my eyes to the critical need for compassionate, equitable healthcare. That experience instilled in me a lifelong commitment to helping others navigate the healthcare system with dignity and support. I first attended Ursinus College, where I earned a degree in Biology, graduating magna cum laude with departmental honors. I was honored with the Henry P. Laughlin M.D. Award and the Laughlin Award for excellence in academics, athletics, and social engagement. These honors recognized not only my academic achievements, but also my dedication to leading and uplifting others in my community. I then went on to earn my Master’s degree in Biological and Physical Sciences, where I graduated with distinction and was awarded the Law and Ethics Award for exemplifying integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to ethical leadership in healthcare. Throughout my academic journey, I sought opportunities to serve beyond the classroom—volunteering at free clinics and participating in a medical mission trip abroad. These experiences taught me that the most impactful physicians are those who listen deeply, advocate fiercely, and treat patients as whole people. That’s what drew me to osteopathic medicine. At TouroCOM, I’ve embraced the osteopathic philosophy of treating the mind, body, and spirit. I’ve learned that true healing goes beyond prescriptions—it involves prevention, empathy, education, and trust. I plan to return to South Jersey to serve medically underserved populations in the community that shaped me. My goal is to open a community-based internal medicine practice that blends osteopathic principles with preventive care and patient education. I want to provide high-quality, accessible care to individuals who often fall through the cracks due to financial or systemic barriers. More than anything, I want my patients to feel seen, respected, and empowered. Through medicine, I hope to make a lasting difference—not just in individual lives, but in the healthcare system as a whole. I am committed to building a career rooted in compassion, ethics, and service, and I hope to leave behind a legacy of care that reflects the values I’ve carried with me every step of the way.

My decision to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine is rooted in a deep commitment to healthcare and a desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. Growing up in New Jersey, I witnessed the challenges my family faced when my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. His battle with the disease—and the emotional and financial toll it took on us—shaped my understanding of the critical need for compassionate, patient-centered care. That experience not only deepened my empathy for patients and their families but also inspired me to dedicate my life to helping others navigate their own health journeys with dignity and understanding. My path to medicine was not linear, but it was intentional. At Ursinus College, I graduated magna cum laude with Honors in Biology. I was honored to receive the Henry P. Laughlin M.D. Award, given to the student who made the greatest contribution to their class and college, and the Laughlin Award for excellence in academics, athletics, and social engagement. While these achievements reflect my dedication to hard work and perseverance, it was my experiences outside the classroom that truly solidified my desire to become a physician. Through volunteer work at free clinics and a medical mission trip abroad, I saw the transformative power of skilled, compassionate healthcare. I knew I wanted to be that kind of doctor—one who treats not only diseases but the whole person. Choosing osteopathic medicine felt like a natural extension of that calling. At Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York, I’ve been able to combine rigorous scientific training with the holistic, patient-focused philosophy of osteopathy. I have come to deeply value the osteopathic principles of understanding the body’s interconnected systems, emphasizing preventive care, and considering the mental, emotional, and social aspects of health. These ideals align perfectly with my own belief that healthcare must extend beyond physical symptoms. Looking ahead, I hope to return to South Jersey to serve the community that raised me. I am committed to delivering accessible, high-quality care to underserved populations, particularly those who face financial and systemic barriers to healthcare. My long-term goal is to establish a community-based internal medicine practice that incorporates osteopathic principles, preventive care, and patient education—empowering individuals to take charge of their health. Ultimately, my journey into medicine has been shaped by a desire to blend scientific knowledge with human connection. Becoming an osteopathic internal medicine physician will allow me to fulfill that mission: to care for the whole patient and to make a lasting difference in the lives of those I serve. I am confident that my background in service, empathy, and clinical training has prepared me to meet that responsibility with compassion and purpose.

My decision to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine is rooted in a deep commitment to healthcare and a desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. Growing up in South Jersey, I witnessed the challenges my family faced when my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. His battle with the disease—and the emotional and financial toll it took on us—shaped my understanding of the critical need for compassionate, patient-centered care. That experience not only deepened my empathy for patients and their families, but also inspired me to dedicate my life to helping others navigate their health journeys with dignity and understanding. To me, legacy means leaving behind something greater than yourself—a lasting contribution that uplifts others and creates pathways that didn’t previously exist. My father didn’t have access to many resources growing up, but he worked tirelessly to provide for his family, always emphasizing the value of education and service. Though we faced adversity, his legacy taught me resilience, perseverance, and the importance of lifting others as you climb. His legacy is the foundation on which I build my own path—not only by pursuing a career in medicine, but by using it as a tool to empower and support those who come after me. My path to medicine was not linear, but it was intentional. At Ursinus College, I graduated magna cum laude with Honors in Biology. I was honored to receive the Henry P. Laughlin M.D. Award, given to the student who made the greatest contribution to their class and college, and the Laughlin Award for excellence in academics, athletics, and social engagement. While these achievements reflect my commitment to hard work, it was my experiences outside the classroom that solidified my calling. Through volunteer work at free clinics and a medical mission trip abroad, I witnessed the transformative power of skilled, compassionate care. I knew then that I wanted to be the kind of doctor who not only treats disease but advocates for the whole person. Choosing osteopathic medicine felt like a natural extension of that calling. At Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York, I’ve been able to combine rigorous scientific training with a holistic, patient-focused philosophy. I deeply value osteopathy’s emphasis on the body’s interconnected systems, preventive care, and the belief that mental, emotional, and social health are just as important as physical well-being. These principles align perfectly with my belief that health care must serve the whole person. My upbringing opened my eyes to the systemic barriers many families face—limited access to care, financial hardship, and a lack of mentorship or guidance navigating the medical system. I want to break that cycle by becoming a physician who not only provides care, but also mentors, educates, and advocates. I hope to return to South Jersey to serve underserved communities and establish a community-based internal medicine practice rooted in osteopathic principles and preventive care. I want to create a space where patients feel seen, respected, and empowered to take control of their health. Ultimately, my journey into medicine is about continuing and expanding the legacy I inherited—one of perseverance, service, and hope. Becoming an osteopathic internal medicine physician will allow me to fulfill that mission: to care for the whole patient and to make a lasting difference in the lives of those I serve. I am confident that my background, my training, and my values have prepared me to honor that legacy while building my own.