ATSU-KCOM was welcoming from the start and hasn’t changed a bit, student says
Posted: September 30, 2025
A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) is a welcoming place. That’s something Jeffrey Thomas Rudman, OMS II, felt when he first stepped foot on campus, and helped him make the decision to attend medical school in northeast Missouri.
“I chose ATSU because of how welcomed and wanted I felt during my interview,” he said. “Speaking with the faculty and students, I could tell they were genuinely happy to be here and proud of their school. Additionally, during my gap year, I had the opportunity to work with several ATSU graduates. Their kindness, professionalism, and excellence in patient care left a lasting impression on me and confirmed that this was the type of physician I aspired to become.”
Rudman, from Ames, Iowa, is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he majored in human physiology and minored in chemistry and psychology. He’s keeping busy in Kirksville, serving as class of 2028 president with the Student Government Association, chair of otolaryngology in the Medical Subspecialty Interest Group, and member of Gamma Beta Phi Honors Society, Sigma Sigma Phi Honors Society, the Anesthesia Club, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Club.
“I became a student ambassador because I want to be the same welcoming presence for others that I experienced during my visits to ATSU. I’m proud to be part of this school, and I’m excited for the opportunity to share my enthusiasm and help prospective students feel the same sense of belonging that drew me here,” he said.
In his free time, Rudman enjoys basketball, fishing, Legos, weight lifting, and cooking. On campus, he’s working toward a future to provide excellent care to his patients.
“My goal is to become the best physician I can be, and ATSU is helping me achieve that through its rigorous academics and the example set by its faculty. I believe the most effective way to teach is by modeling excellence, and that is exactly what the professors at ATSU do every day,” he said.
Rudman is also quick to note that those feelings he had during the interview, they don’t go away. That community feel continues through the daily grind of medical school.
“What I love most about my class, and ATSU in general, is how it truly feels like a tight-knit family. No matter what’s going on, I know my classmates will be there to support each other,” he said. “I’ve seen familiar faces cheering at road races, volunteering side-by-side at service events, and just showing up when it matters. That kind of support has made a big difference in my experience, and it’s something I’m really grateful for.”