Second cohort of Blugold Biomedical Innovator Scholars to graduate May 17

This pioneering health sciences scholarship program launched in 2020 in partnership with Mayo Clinic Health System. The only program of its kind, this renewable four-year scholarship is offered to a select group of incoming students who commit to studies in healthcare or biomedical fields, along with at least two years of collaborative research in the fields with UW-Eau Claire faculty and Mayo Clinic Health System researchers.

Dr. Julie Anderson, professor of biology and director of the Health Careers Center at UW-Eau Claire, has been one of the program coordinators from the onset. She is proud of how far the program has come in five years and is excited for changes on the horizon.

For instance, Anderson says the cohort for fall 2025 has been increased from 10 to 15 incoming first-year students, plus additional offers extended to five current juniors or seniors who have shown “outstanding work in research thus far in their studies at UW-Eau Claire.”

“In addition, we established the Biomedical Innovator Mentorship Program where junior and senior level BI Scholars have the opportunity to pair with Mayo providers or allied health staff,” Anderson says.

“The goal is to build meaningful connections between Mayo Clinic Health System staff and the BI Scholars, to provide a safe place for discussion and growth, and to learn about each other’s experiences, background and perspectives.”

It’s those personal connections with campus faculty and Mayo Clinic Health System staff that the BI scholars cite as a major benefit of participation in the program.

Creanna Cote, assistant director of the Health Careers Center at UW-Eau Claire, emphasizes the additional support the center provides to students as crucial in navigating the complexities of a pre-professional health career education plan.

“In addition to the support and mentoring that BI Scholars get from their faculty mentors, students are encouraged to meet with us in the Health Careers Center for career and professional school planning,” Cote says.

“We offer opportunities and resources for students to connect to a wider healthcare and medical science community in addition to advising students to prepare to apply to health professions programs.”

Cote points to programs like the Skills Day workshops and Mayo-sponsored Emergency Vehicle Days, where BI students can learn alongside medical students and/or clinical or field practitioners as two examples of how the HCC supports students exploring career options in health fields.

Parting thoughts from spring 2025 Biomedical Innovator Scholar program graduates

As they prepare to graduate, we asked these seven graduates to tell us a few highlights of their time in this groundbreaking program, their next career steps and any advice they have for interested or current BI Scholars.

Learn about their experiences in their own words below.

Paige Drazkowski, nursing major from Fountain City

After graduation, I plan to begin my nursing career in Eau Claire, hopefully someday in obstetric nursing. However, I’m open to starting in a different area of nursing during my first year to gain experience and build my skills as I work toward this role.

My long-term career goal is to specialize in obstetric nursing and eventually pursue a graduate program to become a certified nurse midwife.

To future BI students, I would say it is such a unique opportunity, and they are going to learn so much. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and take advantage of the mentors you will have. They are a great resource and will help guide you in so many ways. Also, don’t shy away from collaborating with your peers and learning from each other. Stay open to learning, make the most of every opportunity and always foster your passion for healthcare and innovation.

Cora Dunnum, neuroscience major from Prairie du Sac

I will be taking a break from studies for a while, exploring job options and researching graduate school options. My long-term plan is to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience.

For the new and current BI students, my advice is to be sure to take advantage of all the unique opportunities offered to BI Scholars. These opportunities are simply found no place else, so don’t miss out on them.

Lauren Glenna, nursing major from Cottage Grove (photo unavailable)

After graduating, I will start my job at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, as a registered nurse on a cardiovascular surgical progressive care unit. I will switch into an intensive care unit after a year and prepare for graduate school to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Meanwhile, I plan to enroll in a certification program to be a critical care registered nurse and work as a nurse in an intensive care unit for at least two years. Eventually, I see myself in a teaching role as a certified registered nurse anesthetist further down the line.

Medical skills days were my favorite “extra” in the Biomedical Innovator Scholars program; they helped me keep my eyes on the prize on my hardest school days.

Students interested in the BI program should know it offers great research experience and even greater career advancement opportunities. The embedded connections with the Mayo Clinic and the opportunities to seek even more Mayo connections are just amazing perks.

Olivia Heinecke, biology/microbiology and public health major from Port Washington

After graduation, I will be working at Jeneil Biotechnology near Milwaukee. I will apply for medical school this next cycle with the hopes of beginning a program in the fall of 2026. Following medical school and residency, I hope to become a neurologist, specializing in dementia care.

I would tell the next classes of BI Scholars to take advantage of all the different types of experiences that the program has to offer. From unique collaborative research to “Lunch and Learn” events, shadowing and the exposure to so many faculty members looking to help you succeed — do not pass up these chances. Healthcare is all about innovation and collaboration, which is exactly what being a Biomedical Innovator Scholar entails.

Tori Kangas, nursing major from St. Michael, Minnesota

Following graduation in May with a bachelor’s in nursing and a minor in public health, I will begin my nursing career as a registered nurse in the birthing center at Sanford Health in Bemidji, Minnesota.

I aspire to pursue advanced education in women’s and maternal health or public health, guided by a deep commitment to the areas where I can make the greatest impact.

Through the Biomedical Innovator Scholars program, I’ve developed a strong sense of confidence in my capacity to contribute meaningfully to the field of healthcare. This experience has reassured me that as long as I remain passionate and committed to learning, I am on the right path. I am eager to take the knowledge I’ve gained during college and apply it to driving change for vulnerable and at-risk populations, advocating for health equity and improving outcomes for the communities I serve.

Leah Rook, nursing major from Jordan

My immediate plan is to stay in the Eau Claire area and work at an area hospital. Eventually, I want to go back to school for my master’s in nursing to become a nurse anesthetist.

Last April I was able to travel to Long Beach, California, with Dr. Saori Braun, professor of kinesiology, to present our collaborative research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

I would advise future BI Scholars to be open-minded and willing to learn new techniques. Take risks, go to the conference or whatever opportunity feels scary even if you don’t know anyone else who is going. I promise you will learn new things, make friends and have fun.

Drew Smith, biomedical engineering major from Morris, Illinois

I am enrolled in an M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of South Dakota, starting this July. The way the combined programs works is to complete 18 months of medical school first, then shift to the Ph.D. in the middle and end with the other half of medical school once the Ph.D. is done.

I am most interested in surgical oncology. And I chose the M.D./Ph.D. route because I will not only impact patients on a personal level, but also impact the “greater good” through research discoveries.

Thanks to my BI research experiences, I was accepted for two summer undergraduate research fellowships (SURF) at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The project I worked on was a clinical trial using new software developed by Johns Hopkins to measure kidney stones. I also shadowed medical oncology practitioners over those 10 weeks; I even had the chance to observe a few surgeries.

In the SURF program, I learned just how well prepared I was for the research, compared to some of my peers. The students from major research universities had much less independent lab and investigative decision-making experience than I had. They all worked in labs run by graduate students, but here at UWEC, we undergrads do all the work ourselves, and it shows.

My advice to future or interested BI students would be to seek out opportunities because you never know when you will get a “yes.” In Rochester, I just emailed the surgical oncologists to let them know my interest in their field, and they said I could shadow. People are usually very willing to help or just show you their jobs, but you need to ask. Those experiences have totally shaped my career plan.

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Check our website to learn more details about the unique experiences and supports to be found at UW-Eau Claire through the Blugold Biomedical Innovator Scholars program and the Health Careers Center.