Mmanuel Afi Dumenya ’23

Hometown: Oakdale, MN

Major: Health Sciences

Area of Focus: Pre-Med and Patient Care

Mmanuel Afi Dumenya ’23 chose the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) for its distinctive class structure, where each course integrated science and real-world medical topics to support her future career in health care. “I loved the community and support that I saw from the ambassadors during my visit and wanted to be a part of a community that made me feel so comfortable,” shared Dumenya. 

With aspirations of becoming a physician, Dumenya shaped her UMR experience around this goal. During her Capstone, she worked as a patient care assistant (PCA), conducted research and shadowed physicians at Mayo Clinic to deepen her understanding of medicine.

“My Capstone experience pushed me to articulate why I wanted to pursue the physician role over others,” she said. “It helped me tremendously during the medical school application and interview process.”

Dumenya credits all faculty and staff at UMR for having a positive impact on her during her time at UMR, however she notes that Dr. Shannon Anderson was an especially influential instructor. “Dr. Anderson is someone I aspire to be like because of her grace and how dedicated she is not only to teaching but also to the lives of her students.” 

She is currently working as a pharmacy technician to build new skills, learn about the intricacies of insurance and help patients navigate their personal plans while she awaits to hear back from medical schools.

Learn more about the Pre-Med and Patient Care area of focus at UMR.