Maya is a 4th year medical student at A.T. Still University of Health Sciences.  She has been a participant in the PRIMO program since her senior year of high school. The Floristell, Missouri native completed her undergraduate education at Truman State University.  There she was granted preferential admission to KCOM. Maya has worked with numerous physicians through job shadowing opportunities with PRIMO. She also coordinated a summer camp for young girls at the Centro Latino in Milan, Missouri.  Maya plans to practice pediatrics in a Community Health Center. 

Cory is a 2008 graduate of St. Louis University's School of Medicine. He is an active member of the Family Medicine Interest Group and has completed his training with honors. Cory scored in the 95th percentile nationwide on the standard family medicine exam. His education will continue at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Cory plans to practice family medicine in an underserved rural area.

Amanda is a first year medical student. She is a Bryant Scholar, the first step in the School of Medicine's Rural Track Pipeline. As a Bryant Scholar Amanda was admitted to medical school as an undergraduate thanks to her high academics and her interest in rural medicine. Amanda is a member of the Rural Medicine Interest Group, the Family Medicine Interest Group and the Geriatric Interest Group. Amanda will spend weeks this summer working with physicians in rural communities in Missouri.

Sarah Way is a senior at the University of Missouri – Kansas City.  She has been a participant in the PRIMO program since her junior year of high school in Hamilton, Missouri.  Sarah decided to become a dentist at 9 years old.  She will begin dental school in the fall at UMKC. Sarah is an ACES pipeline participant and has worked with the Northwest Missouri AHEC as well as the West Central Missouri AHEC.  She hopes to eventually practice dentistry back in Hamilton.

Dr. Gretchen Risby is a first year medical resident in Internal Medicine at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville. She first became involved with the PRIMO ACES program as a high school freshman in Ellsinore. Gretchen has been involved in numerous academic enrichment workshops and community service projects. She's also been a strong advocate for children and the mentally disabled.  Gretchen plans to continue her career as a primary care physician in an underserved rural area.

Erik AuBuchon is a third year medical student at Kirksville’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.  He has been a participant in the PRIMO ACES program since his junior year of high school and through his undergraduate studies at Truman State University.  Erik has completed multiple field internships, medical workshops and shadowing experiences with Mid Missouri’s Area Health Education Center.  Erik plans a career in pediatrics. Erik’s wife, Tausha, is also in the medical field.

Iesha is a pre-med junior.  She plans to pursue a career in pediatrics.  Through Iesha’s work with the East Central Missouri Area Health Education Center she has been able to job shadow physicians in a variety of fields. She has developed projects that teach elementary school children about careers in healthcare.  She is also a volunteer at Ranken Jordan, a private, not-for-profit, pediatric rehabilitation hospital. She assists in UMSL’s Biology Department and attends forums and functions in the medical fields.  Iesha is a first generation college student.

Byron Thornton is a third year student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. He plans to pursue a primary care specialty in family medicine or perhaps pediatrics. Byron received his undergraduate degree from Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. In 2002, he became a PRIMO ACES+ student through the Northwest Missouri Area Health Education Center. Through ACES+ Byron has been able to assist with the MU AHEC's Summer Rural Community program and help with workshop training. Byron and his wife Danielle have one son, named Bryston. 

Anna Donze is a junior at Central High School in Springfield. She plans to pursue a career as a physician in possibly family practice or pediatrics. Anna has participated in the ACES program for three years. In that time, She's job shaddowed in emergency medicine, orthopedics, ICU and Labor and Delivery.  She's had the opportunity to work with hundreds of families through the community health fair's 5 A Day Puppet Play children's nutrition program.  Anna is also a volunteer with the Springfield Y Summer Youth program. Anna is a mentor and leader volunteering to help young girls who have an interest in scientific learning and education. Anna's dedication and generosity made her a perfect choice for the 2007 Missouri Scholars Academy, a three week residential program on the MU campus.  Anna's advice for working through a challenge is this, "Do more than you have to; try to find something interesting to learn."

Denae Bachtel is a recent graduate of Brunswick High School in Chariton County. She's now a freshman at Northwest Missouri State University pursuing a career in dentistry.  Denae has been in the PRIMO ACES program since she was a freshman in high school. Her experience includes participation in the University of Missouri-Kansas City dental assistance program and work with a Federal Qualified Health Center helping provide dental services to children in need. Through her involvement with PRIMO, Denae has been able to participate in various Missouri Area Health Education Center events as well as job shadow over 200 hours in her chosen field of dentistry.