“Baseball is starting to diminish; the real world is setting in,” said Kennen Less, 2011 Aquinas College graduate, biology major, and former member of the AQ baseball team. As Less prepares for the next step, he reflects on his long-held interest in science, his original decision to attend AQ, and the next decade in his career. Though biology was once merely his academic major, Less has shifted his focus from his passion for baseball to his application to medical school, and his eventual career as a pediatric oncologist.

As a senior at Rockford High School, Less was focused on his athletics career and choosing a college which would provide a baseball team as well as a competitive scholarship. However, as he began biology classes at Aquinas in order to pursue his interest in science, Less soon developed a passion for biology and eventually considered a career in medicine. After deciding against a lab or dentistry environment, he chose to continue his education in medical school shortly before his junior year. “I didn’t want to get stuck in the lab,” said Less, of his decision against a career in research.

In addition to his studies, Less participated in the Tri Beta Biological Honor Society and the AQ Chemistry Society, worked part-time on campus in housekeeping and athletics, and volunteered in the emergency rooms of both Butterworth and Blodgett Hospitals.

Less also participated in an internship at the Van Andel Institute’s Mason Lab, where he researched bone regeneration and fracture healing. “It is kind of intense,” he said, but, “It’s a good experience.”

The institute, which provided an inside-look into medical research, eventually offered Less a full-time paid position after graduation, during a year in which Less will be applying to medical school. Though the complex application process means another year of preparation, he gladly accepts the challenge to further his career. “It’s going to be another long year, but that’s fine,” said Less.

As he prepared for graduation, Less reflected on the close relationships with his professors that enabled his persistence in a challenging program. Biology professors Thomas Bahl, Ph.D., Jeffrey McKelvey, Ph.D., and Jennifer Hess, Ph.D., each made their own significant contribution to Less’ education. In particular, Dr. Hess’ cell biology class in the fall of his junior year solidified his dedication to a career in medicine. The class “opened my eyes into how hard I really have to work,” said Less.

As a former baseball player with an uncharted path for his education, Less utilized the guidance of these professors to realize his passion for a career in medicine, and pursue the vital steps to achieve his end goals. In the fall of 2012, he will begin an 8-10 year commitment to a medical degree and residency. After which, Less looks forward to a possible career in military medicine and a commitment to a demanding and rewarding profession.