Before the NEOMED Class of 2026 starts their journey, we wanted to learn more about students from this group. We invited them to share their stories. Here is one response:
Meet first-year medicine student Bryce Pember of Amherst, Ohio. Bryce earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from The Ohio State University.
What compelled you to pursue a degree in health care?
My father is an RN and everyone else in my family is an engineer. Growing up, I was fascinated by both medicine and technology and how those two fields could overlap to improve health care. Volunteering at UC Health finalized my decision to pursue medicine when I learned how rewarding it was to help patients in a clinical setting.
Why did you choose NEOMED?
NEOMED offers me the opportunity to be close to my family and friends while offering more interaction between staff and students that I missed going to such a large undergraduate university.
What specific career do you hope to pursue? Or where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I am really interested in orthopedic surgery and how advancements in technology and engineering can play a hand in improving surgical techniques and quality of life after surgery. I also hope to be working in a metropolitan area with a family, two dogs and maybe some kids.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be an artist. Painting, drawing and sculpting have always been a special talent of mine, and art is something I still do in my free time as a way of expressing myself.
What is your favorite thing to eat and why?
Sushi. There are a million different kinds and you could eat it your whole life and never have the same thing twice.
What book or movie are you currently recommending to friends? Why?
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. It encompasses everything I love: science, engineering, medicine and science fiction.
You are handed a plan ticket to anywhere in the world. Where are you going? Why?
I just got back from a three-week trip in Europe and by far my favorite place I traveled was Lake Como, Italy. It’s incredibly beautiful and peaceful and really puts things into perspective.
If time and resources were no object, what skill or hobby would you pursue? Why?
I have always wanted to learn how to scuba dive. I grew up on boats and around the water and I am fascinated by marine biology.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I think people would be surprised to know that I worked for GE Aviation making thermal coatings for jet engine parts when I finally decided that I wanted to change career paths to medicine.