Preparing Service-Focused Future Physicians

With a 100% medical school acceptance rate for students who successfully complete the pre-med program, Taylor University prepares students called to serve through healthcare. 

Dr. Stuart Walker serves as the Health Professions Coordinator at Taylor, a unique role in higher education. He has 38 years of experience working with the Indiana University School of Medicine, the largest medical school in the nation. As a member of the admissions committee, he interviewed hundreds of prospective students. Walker also has experience as a medical school professor, faculty mentor, dean, and medical research scientist. 

Whether it's getting into the right classes, studying for the MCAT, gaining clinical hours, pursuing intercultural experiences, or practicing interview skills, Taylor students know that Walker uses his experience to guide them through the entire process.  

The Mentorship Process 

When pre-med students begin their freshman year at Taylor, they are directed to meet with Walker. He gets to know them, recommends courses, and discusses valuable experiences for them to take advantage of. Some of these include CNA training during J-term, the Ecuador study abroad program, the Invitation Program, and research on campus.  

Throughout the year, Walker teaches an MCAT preparation course on Saturdays. He also leads a course to aid students with the medical school interview process, covering example questions, hosting mock interviews, and more. Pre-med students meet with Walker regularly to talk through any questions and ensure they are on track.  

Whole-Person Development 

Not only does Taylor prepare students academically, but the University is also deeply committed to character development. Outside of academic accomplishments, medical schools are looking for driven, compassionate applicants with genuine care for people, according to Walker. 

“Among those academically qualified, they’re looking for someone they’d trust to care for their kids or parents—excellence in academics but also in character,” Walker explained. “Someone who says, ‘This person’s need is more important than my comfort.’”  

One way this genuine care is evidenced is through clinical experience and volunteer hours. 

Grace Timm ‘25, a Biology Health Science graduate attending Indiana University School of Medicine, shared, “Taylor has a lot of amazing service opportunities, and I think that’s what God has really used to direct my life toward medicine and that helping profession.”   

One opportunity for students is the Invitation Program, a diabetes prevention clinic near campus. The Invitation Program partners with doctors from the Indiana University Health network and is managed by a team of Taylor University faculty. Students are trained as health educators and build relationships with clients as they work one-on-one to implement healthy nutrition and exercise plans.  

“It’s an opportunity to learn what that one-on-one patient-provider interaction looks like. It’s such a coveted and rare experience for undergrads to be able to do that, and it was the thing most asked about in my interviews,” said recent Biology Health Science graduate Drew Loy ‘25, who is enrolled at Indiana University School of Medicine. 

Additionally, Walker stressed the value of cross-cultural experience for the medical field—through language, missions, or study abroad experiences.  

The Cuenca, Ecuador, semester abroad provides students with intercultural experience while taking Spanish and Latin dance courses as well as shadowing doctors at a community clinic overseen by the local church.

“I shadowed in family medicine and in surgery and got to see what healthcare looks like in Ecuador. I asked the doctor whatever questions I wanted about his experience, and as my Spanish got better, I was able to learn more and more,” Timm shared.  

A Calling to Serve 

Walker discussed the missional motivation for pursuing healthcare. “If we are invested in our walk with the Lord, it should make a huge impact on how we live our lives—in every area,” he said.   

Science is a tool for subduing the earth, and medicine is a way to honor each person’s God-given dignity. "Every patient you treat will die one day. There needs to be some plan to bring Jesus into their life—a Christ centered compassion and care for their eternal destiny,” Walker said.  

Parker Whitby ‘25, enrolled at Marian University Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine, encouraged students to consider their reason and motivation. “Look at your 'why.' Why am I doing this? Would the idea of not doing it tear me apart because of how much I care?”  

Loy also cultivated a view of medicine as ministry. “As a physician, you’re often seeing patients on their worst days in the middle of their catastrophe,” he reflected. “Medical school is this incredible opportunity to use the gifts that God has given me to further advance the Kingdom of God." 

Studying health sciences at Taylor University is more than a steppingstone to graduate programs. Wholly integrating faith and learning, Taylor prepares our students for eternal Kingdom work.