Welcome Class of 2029

Jubilant, nervous, stoked, grateful and ready to start.

Those were just a few of the ways VCU School of Medicine’s 185 new students described their feelings on the first day of medical school.

With 64% of students from Virginia, the rest representing 17 states and a few from as far as the Philippines and Ethiopia, the Class of 2029 arrived to the MCV Campus on Monday, July 21 for the Transition to Medical School, a two-week orientation.

Luan Lawson, M.D., senior associate dean for medical education and student affairs, congratulated the new M1s on their acceptance to medical school, and assured them that as they embark on the journey to become doctors, they will "rise to the occasion with confidence, compassion and purpose." 

“Each of you were selected because we are confident in your ability to succeed over the next four years,” Lawson said. “We are deeply invested in your success – academically, personally and professionally. You belong here.”

 In the Class of 2029, you’ll find…

Daredevils who have gone skydiving, paragliding, hang-gliding, cliff jumping in Puerto Rico, mountain climbing and swimming with sharks

Athletes who have competed in soccer, track and field, cross country, dance, table tennis, basketball, baseball, swimming and a speedskater

Speakers of Arabic, French, Hindi, Gujarati, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Sanskrit, Spanish, Turkish and Urdu

Musicians that play the bass clarinet, bass guitar, cello, flute, guitar, harmonica, piano, violin, tabla, mridangam, oud, ukelele and qanun

Creatives that arrange flowers, decorate cakes, bake, crochet, dance, draw, paint, scrapbook and sew

Runners who have completed 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons, marathons and a 100-mile ultramarathon – twice.

Twenty-seven medical assistants, eight EMTs, 14 medical scribes and 14 medical technicians

A beekeeper who harvests honey for their friends

M1s that are excited, nervous, grateful, eager, determined, anxious and fueled by coffee as they start medical school

On their way to medical school, they…

Lived in Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ethiopia, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom

Climbed Japan’s Mount Fuji, the French Alps, Utah’s High Uinta Wilderness, Taiwan’s Mount Ali, Colorado’s Red Rocks and Rocky Mountains, and Mount Everest’s Base Camp

Worked as baristas, waiters, coaches, tutors, dog walkers, ski patrollers, ice cream scoopers, a florist, a toddler soccer coach and a fisheries lab technician

Had early exposure in ophthalmology, emergency medicine, dermatology, pediatrics, neurology, family medicine, OB-GYN, internal medicine, cardiology, otolaryngology and orthopaedics

Fostered eight cats and raised flamingo chicks at the National Zoo

Served as Chief Mate on a Coast Guard ship

Taught dance, Pilates, yoga, kindergarten, English as a second language and violin