Her path has taken her to many different places, but I’m sure you’ll agree it was because of her tremendous drive, focused on specific goals. Read on to see what I mean….

After graduating from Menomonie High School, I committed to playing Division I soccer at North Dakota State University, competing in the Summit League. As a true freshman, I saw time on the field in both midfield and defensive roles and quickly learned the demands of D1 athletics—balancing classes, practices, study hall, and constant travel. I spent most of my first semester living out of a suitcase and airports. It was then that I declared my major in Exercise Science, aligning my academic interests with my passion for sports and performance.

At the end of my freshman year, a change in career goals led me to transfer schools. Having been recruited by Minnesota State University–Moorhead during high school, I decided to continue my soccer career there, competing in NCAA Division II. I spent the next three years as a center midfielder for the MSUM Dragons, was honored to serve as team captain for 2 years, and graduated with both academic and athletic recognition.

At MSUM, I earned a double major in Exercise Science and Biology, along with minors in Coaching, Nutrition, and Strength and Conditioning. I completed internships in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Biomechanics. In cardiac rehab, I created personalized training plans for patients recovering from cardiac events and procedures. At a performance enhancement facility, I learned to assess biomechanical inefficiencies using Dartfish motion analysis technology and applied that knowledge to develop individualized training programs.

After graduating from undergraduate school, I was accepted into the Physician Associate Master’s Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The PA profession, created during World War II to address physician shortages, is an accelerated medical pathway based on the medical model. PAs are trained to care for patients across the lifespan, from birth through end-of-life, with hands-on clinical experience instead of a traditional residency. My class had just 25 students, and I chose to focus on Emergency Medicine and Critical Care. Upon successful completion of my PA boards, I was accepted to an Emergency Medicine fellowship at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

My first full-time job brought me back to Western Wisconsin where I worked as both a hospitalist and emergency medicine provider at St. Croix Medical Center in St Croix, WI. On my very first day, I delivered a baby and transitioned another patient to comfort care—a powerful reminder of the full scope of life we encounter in medicine. Eventually, I focused solely on Emergency Medicine, working with Infinity Healthcare Group based in Milwaukee.

That position took me to Chicago, where I served as a traveling PA at hospitals across Wisconsin and Illinois, including Eau Claire, Kenosha, and Libertyville. I enjoyed living in a “small big city” and found peace running along the lakeshore between shifts.

Driven by a desire for adventure, I accepted a position in Emergency Medicine at NYU’s Emergency Department, which brought me to Brooklyn, NY. Adjusting to city life came with challenges—especially the morning train commutes and carrying groceries home. Although I was living in a small apartment, I adopted a rescue pit bull named Nala. Together, we navigated the complexities of New York City and formed a strong bond.

Eventually, I realized the pace of the city was more than I wanted long-term so I relocated to New Jersey shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, I returned to the ICU and hospitalist as a nocturnist, while also working day shifts at a local urgent care clinic. It was during this time that I met my current partner—also an essential worker. He is a firefighter with the FDNY, stationed at the iconic “Ghostbusters” firehouse in Tribeca.

During the pandemic, my older brother Ben was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer that had metastasized to his liver. Following this life-changing news, I transitioned back into Emergency Medicine and began working at Columbia University Medical Center–New York-Presbyterian, where I have been employed for the past three years. In addition, I hold a part-time position at a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic, where I diagnose and treat musculoskeletal pain and disorders in close collaboration with specialists in Rheumatology, Neurology, and Orthopedic.

Throughout my career, I’ve navigated challenging environments from the front lines of the COVID 19 pandemic to deeply personal experiences, such as the loss of my brother Ben and my rescue pup Nala, months apart in 2024. These experiences continue to ground my approach to medicine. Reflecting on my journey, I am deeply grateful for my upbringing in Menomonie. I cherish the priceless roots of family, friends, community support, athletics, laughter, and education that our small town provides.  Each day, I carry this appreciation with me as I navigate my professional and personal life.

Readers, you can see what I meant about Alison’s intense focus and longstanding love of athletics and caring for others. (She was just like this when I had her as a seventh grade reading student)!  She’s come a long way since her graduation in 2006, hasn’t she?