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Sandusky native Lauren Noftz is about to graduate from the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, but she's not your typical student. The mother of three, who has a bachelor's in biology from Baldwin Wallace University and a master's in medical physiology from Case Western Reserve University, previously worked as a phlebotomist but is now headed to her number one pick for residency, an internal medicine-pediatrics combined program at MetroHealth. 

What are you most excited about as you take your next step in your career?

I am the most excited about finally knowing what I will be "when I grow up" and knowing my goals are finally about to be achieved.  As a mother of three and nontraditional student, I hit many speedbumps along the way. It is so relieving to know that I have finally "made it" and there is an end in sight.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would it be?

I would tell myself to not be so hard on myself.  This journey took me a long time due to "mistakes" I had made.  However, every mistake was pivotal to defining who I am and who I want to be as a physician. They were all very necessary for growth and what I needed to experience to truly end up where I wanted to be. Trust the universe, it knows what it is doing.

What led you to a career in medicine?

This is a loaded question.  This is a combination of both personal and professional experiences. Personally, I have been a patient that has fallen through the cracks of healthcare, as well as experienced medical gaslighting.  Those things are so discouraging, and I want to do my part to help patients not experience some of the things I have.  I also was a medical assistant/phlebotomist in my past life.  I was able to really learn about all of the different positions in healthcare and was really drawn to the role of a physician.  

How would you describe your time at the Heritage College?

I would describe my time at HCOM as transformative.  I really struggled with imposter syndrome when I first started.  Being a nontraditional mother of three, I originally felt so different from my peers.  Everyone was so welcoming, and I eventually realized my background was a really strong asset with both my patients and my peers.  I really enjoy the diversity of students that HCOM admits because learning from each other really helps us navigate the diverse patient population we experience on rotations.  I also think that the diverse experiences HCOM gives us through our professors, professional development opportunities, clinical rotations, etc. really help transform you professionally as well.

Looking back on medical school, what were your most important experiences?

I think my most important experiences were a combination of our small group set up and diverse clinical experiences. The small group set up was really pivotal in the success of the students. I really enjoyed the safety and security of my small group members.  I also really enjoyed learning from all of them because we were all so different.

For my clinical rotations, I chose Greater Cleveland.  I really wanted a lot of inpatient experience, and I wanted the best opportunity to rotate within all of the various hospitals I wanted to apply for residency. Though it was a more challenging experience, I feel that it really provided me with such a solid foundation for intern year. We have so many fantastic preceptors and it finally made everything feel real.

Tell us about your inspirations in life.

My inspirations in life are my kids. They are my why and are my drive when things get tough. They are all such amazing little humans that deserve the world. I also have loved watching them grow during this process and seeing how my hard work has translated to inspiring them. My son recently was accepted into an EMT course. He wants to gain experience to hopefully be an EM physician one day. My littles have loved being my patients for physical exam and OMT practice.  It has really made them more curious about everything!

Who has helped you along the way? Is there anyone you want to recognize?

My boyfriend Dan and my original small group members, and a few others from medical school were my saving grace.  They all helped so much when things got tough and they all were my biggest supporters. I really couldn't have done it without them!

What hobbies do you have?

I love line dancing and the outdoors (exploring with the kids, beach going, kayaking, hiking, etc.)