Class of 2027

Kyndall Hadley

2027

I have wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember and have been fortunate to have this goal reinforced in every setting where I’ve interacted with physicians or patients. I chose medicine because I love learning about the human body, I want to care for patients, and I want to be able to apply my knowledge towards that care. From organic molecules to interactions between organ systems, the deep levels of interconnection within the body that allow humans to function the way we do fascinate me. It amazes me that the body can perform so smoothly while it is so functionally complex. I chose medicine so that I can deepen my understanding of the human body and the constant interactions between its systems that allow us to be alive. I also chose medicine because I aim to continue learning the demeanors of calmness, professionalism, and compassion I noticed while shadowing physicians. I want to apply my knowledge towards truly caring for patients’ health on multiple levels. I look forward to a future of learning about medicine and applying what I learn to improve patient care.

I am incredibly honored to be a recipient of the Charles J. Blackwood, MD, Endowed Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is important because it significantly reduces the financial burden of medical school and helps scholars to feel further supported by a community of medical professionals in and out of the CU School of Medicine. I am excited to be in communion with the Mile High Medical Society and have an opportunity to meet other Black medical professionals. This scholarship is also important because it carries forward the legacy of Dr. Blackwood, a trailblazer who was the first Black graduate from the CU School of Medicine.

In doing this, he became a role model for Black students and opened doors for a new generation at the CU School of Medicine. His dedication and commitment to this path inspire me to emulate these traits in my own career. I hope to follow my passions to new directions and open doors for the people who come after me. I am extremely grateful to be a recipient of this scholarship; thank you to everyone who made this possible for students like me.

Class of 2026

Lidia Biratu

2026

I am the elder of two daughters. Raised in rural Ethiopia, my parents brought my sister and me to the United States when she was four and I was eight. My parents didn't speak good English or have any formal western education, as a result, we did not grow up wealthy. What they did have was deep curiosity, an incredible work ethic, and a profound appreciation for the opportunity available to us in the United States. Now at 25 years old, as a college graduate, a wife, and a first-year medical student I still find myself terrified that I will not adequately capitalize on the opportunities my parents worked so hard to provide for me. I am dedicated to this dream to become a physician not only because it is my greatest dream, but because achieving that dream will represent the culmination of the efforts of so many people. I am so honored to be at CUSOM, thank you so much for supporting my dream.

Sandra Appiah

2026

I am so blessed and excited to be a part of the Mile High Medical Society (MHMS) family! I love that MHMS has made my goals feel within reach and has allowed me to prioritize my learning during medical school so I can aim toward being as successful as possible on my path to becoming a future physician.

I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with a minor in Sociology. I spent the following 2 years working as a Respite Care Worker for a patient with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and as a Sales Advisor at Best Buy to fund my medical school application cycle while supporting my family members. Now, I am a proud member of the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Class of 2026. 

My love for medicine developed watching my mother work as a 24/7 Host Home Care Provider for various clients my whole life. I learned a lot about how care can vary for individuals and what it means to provide services that increase the overall quality of life for medically underserved populations.

From middle school to college, I spent years in various pre-health programs at the Anschutz Medical Campus that helped me see the type of care and programs used in my own community to ensure that each individual has ample access to healthcare. Having exposure to health disparities as well as educators who worked to dismantle these inequalities showed me how pressing the needs of my community were. My firsthand experiences of some of the disadvantages and barriers that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations remind me every day why I hope to become a physician who works to install health equity within the health system. The empathy and compassion I have for Aurora, my home, guides me every day to follow unpaved roads in order to train and become the physician I dream of. A school that works to be aware of the community's needs, constantly renovating and innovating education and treatment to provide unrivaled care is the collaborative environment I see myself thriving in and one of my biggest reasons for attending the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Growing up alongside this Anschutz Medical Campus has demonstrated to me the lengths they are willing to take to eliminate health disparities and I am honored to continue my development as a provider alongside a school I believe in. 

Class of 2025

Karima Osman

2025

Through poetry and short stories, I explore narratives in the African diaspora to foster community. I write stories of trauma, poverty, spirituality, love, and many other matters. I have served in immigrant and refugee healthcare through policy action committees and public health research. My desire to mentor others stems from the teachings of my dad. He attended university in his early 40s and uplifted our family through higher education. I am the first woman within my immediate and extended family to graduate from college and feel indebted to my support system. I am interested in Dermatology, Oncology, and Bioethics. I recognize that guidance is a mediating factor in one's success and am honored by the opportunity to be supported by the physicians and faculty of the Mile High Medical Society.

Tyler (Benji) Benjamin

2025

I received my bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in music education and my master’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in euphonium performance. I enlisted into the United States Army in 2011 as a cryptologic linguist and am currently a proud member of the University of Colorado School of Medicine class of 2025. While there are many reasons I chose to go into medicine, my experiences growing up in a medically underserved area, interactions with medical professionals as my mother passed away, and most recently exploration of the inequality experienced by so many people have inspired me and shaped the practice I hope to have. I want to use my future expertise as a physician to look for those that have been overlooked. I will seek to amplify access to medicine and health education for marginalized populations at home and abroad and provide unbiased treatment for all walks of life.

Codi Hortsman

2025

When I was a teenager both of my parents suffered major medical illnesses, both resulting in neurologic complications.  I was devastated, but I was also fascinated by the hospital environment.  I think this is when I first became interested in medicine.

I went off to college in 2012 as a pre-med neuroscience major, but around that same time, I bought my first guitar. Music had been an integral part of my life and was one of my biggest support systems throughout my parents’ illnesses. The more I played, the more my passion for it grew. Initially, I found it impossible, but eventually, things started to click. A few years later I decided to audition for my school’s music program. I was ultimately accepted.  

After graduating in 2017 with a degree in music, I did a lot of reflecting on what was next for me. I considered many things, but it was my early experiences with medicine that I came back to. I thought of the time spent in the ICU during my mother's recovery. I thought of the times I followed the ambulance to the ER for my father. I thought of the many physicians who had cared for my parents and countless others. After lots of thought, I decided to pursue a dream that first crossed my mind when I was a kid. For the past four years, I've been working towards this goal and I'm extremely thankful to be given this opportunity. 

Mohamoud Ahmed

2025

I am truly honored and excited to be supported by the Mile High Medical Society (MHMS)!

I graduated high school and college in Greeley, CO and before that I lived in Seattle, WA. My three passions are family, medicine, and basketball. I was raised by a single mom of eight kids. You will learn that family means everything to me and I always like to brag about them! I already consider MHMS as family and I am ecstatic that my family is getting bigger! I chose medicine for many reasons, but the biggest reason is from what I witnessed in my community. Growing up in a community with a large population of Somali refugees, I witnessed how impactful cultural and language competency has on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of a person that does not speak English and comes from another culture. It creates a large distrust in the healthcare system and creates a gap between the provider and patients. I have friends and family that have chronic illnesses that could have been prevented if there was not a miscommunication between patient and provider. I have never met a physician of Somali lineage until I got to medical school which is truly heartbreaking. I decided to take it upon myself to become a Somali physician and begin to build trust in the healthcare field to prevent the tragedies that continue to ravage the community that raised me. With MHMS, I believe that I could achieve that goal! Thank you for having me and cannot wait to see what the future holds for everyone.

2017 MHMS Scholarship Recipient

First Awardee

Marcus Marable

2017

“MHMS’ incredible gift will be treasured. I will be able to fully prioritize learning while in medical school.”

Marcus’ journey to medicine began with his family’s values; emphasizing education, taking advantage of opportunities to learn and grow, and always helping others. Those lessons became more poignant as Marcus’ father became ill. Seeking to shelter him from his father’s illness, his parents carried on their routines as normal as possible. Yet Marcus was aware of his father’s decline, and worked diligently and took great joy in ways he could comfort his father and family. Yet the moments of joy he found in caring for his father ended abruptly with his father’s death.

After Marcus’ father passed, he and his mother struggled to adjust to their new lives, yet were determined to maintain the values important to their family and to Marcus’ father. Marcus focused on caring for others and being his best through the Boy Scouts and earned Eagle Scout status at the age of 13. Marcus earned admission to the University of Chicago and delved into lab work and research on cancer and human genetics. Skilled in his course and lab work, Marcus found his true calling when he gained clinical experience. Shadowing physicians and speaking with patients undergoing cancer treatment spoke to his father’s early lessons in giving back and also gave Marcus an opportunity to help and comfort patients through challenging times.

As Marcus begins his journey with the CU School of Medicine, his father’s values live on, his Eagle Scout pin remains with his mother, so she may hold it for him and his father, and we are confident that Marcus will continue to shine as he pursues new opportunities to learn, grow, and help others.

Marcus is really appreciative of the Mile High Medical Society Scholarship that he received. He shared that the scholarship ensures he will be able to focus and fully prioritize learning while he is in medical school. He hopes to return the favor of providing financial support to a deserving student once he becomes a doctor.

Where is he now?

Marcus graduated from medical school in 2022. He is completing a General Internal Medicine residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Illinois.