Ready to Make Their Mark: 6 Sayre Alumni Head to Pre-Med

For many students, the path to a career in medicine is a deeply personal one, often shaped by impactful experiences and a genuine desire to help others. This fall, six 2025 Sayre graduates are embarking on their journeys into pre-med, each bringing a unique story and a shared passion for healing. 

From overcoming personal health challenges to being inspired by family members and transformative classroom moments, these aspiring medical professionals are ready to make their mark on the world.

Alex England

Imagine having to undergo emergency brain surgery in high school. After Alex recovered from this health emergency her sophomore year, she developed a strong interest in pediatric neurosurgery. 

Alex says that Sayre’s numerous biology and anatomy courses, coupled with chances to support the community through events like Dance Blue and blood drives, have allowed her to both learn about and actively engage with the healthcare field.

She’s now looking forward to deepening her knowledge as a neuroscience major at the University of Kentucky, driven by a heartfelt hope to help children in the future.

Ella Johnson

Ella has wanted to pursue a career in medicine for as long as she can remember. Her experiences in Biology II and AP Psychology helped her better understand the many different fields within healthcare, further solidifying her path.

Ella especially benefited from Biology II labs like a heart lab, where she monitored heart rates, applied EKGs, and took blood pressure and vitals.

During her senior internship at Bluegrass Direct Primary Care, Ella observed a wide range of medical services and patient interactions, gained hands-on experience by taking vitals and assisting with treatments, and learned about telehealth, lab work analysis, and common medications.

Fiona Lee

Fiona discovered her passion for medicine during her freshman year. Inspired by her love of biology, she took the initiative to shadow at Baptist Health and join the medical club, experiences that solidified her path.

Two pivotal moments at Sayre stand out: the foundational knowledge gained in freshman biology and physics, and a truly unforgettable fifth grade shark dissection that sparked her early scientific curiosity.

Now, Fiona is headed to the University of North Carolina. “UNC is known for having amazing resources for research as well, which I'm so excited to do for the first time,” she says.

Charlie Slabaugh 

Inspired by his physician-father, Charlie developed an early passion for medicine. He credits both Sayre's robust science curriculum and the school’s dedicated teachers for laying the groundwork for his pre-med aspirations and cultivating his independent thinking skills.

A few standout moments for Charlie: a lab on fermentation and lactic acid production, which connected classroom to real-world applications, and a lab analyzing DNA strands for cancer risks, which mimicked tests that physicians regularly order for their patients.

Reflecting on these impactful experiences, Charlie expresses his eagerness to continue his scientific explorations: “I am excited to go even deeper into the scientific world around and inside of all of us.” 

Zerren Stacy

Zerren developed a passion for medicine in elementary school after watching her mother, a nurse, save a fellow passenger's life on an airplane. “Sayre helped nurture that passion through the medical club and my teachers encouraging me to work toward my goals,” she says.

Zerren credits her AP Physics class for pushing her beyond her comfort zone, building resilience, and preparing her for the rigors of college-level science courses. 

“I’m excited to push toward my goal of getting into medical school, specifically by majoring in biochemistry,” Zerren says. “I love science dearly, and I can’t wait to be academically challenged in a way I never have been before.”

Olivia Watson

Olivia found her calling to medicine during her senior year in Biology II. She credits her Sayre teachers for recognizing her potential and motivating her to excel.

Among her memorable experiences: a learning unit on skin, explorations of various diseases and treatments, and a lab in which Olivia dissected a sheep heart, giving her a hands-on look at the intricacies of the body.

Driven by a genuine desire to help others and equipped with a growing understanding of biological sciences, Olivia is looking forward to starting her pre-med major this fall.