We are changing health care for good through educating the best and brightest. A welcome message to the students at KCU

Welcome to Kansas City University (KCU) and I am proud you are here!

To all our new students — whether you’re beginning your journey in Kansas City or in Joplin — welcome to the KCU family. Today marks the start of an exciting and transformative chapter in your life, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to help you begin it.

You are now part of a university that is bold in its mission and deeply rooted in service. At Kansas City University (KCU), we don’t just train health care professionals — we shape compassionate leaders who are prepared to tackle some of the greatest challenges in medicine, dentistry, behavioral health and biomedical science today.

Over the past year, we’ve seen extraordinary progress and impact. KCU is now the fourth-largest medical school in the nation — an achievement built on our unwavering commitment to excellence and access.

We’ve expanded our clinical partnerships, strengthened our academic offerings and deepened our outreach to underserved populations. Whether it’s through providing dental care to those in need, enhancing mental health support in our communities or preparing future physicians to serve in rural and urban areas alike — the impact of KCU continues to grow.

Our students are achieving at the highest levels. Our graduates consistently match into top residency and fellowship programs. They’re building careers rooted in empathy, equity and excellence — making a real difference across the country and around the globe.

The programs that support this success are nothing short of world-class. Our College of Osteopathic Medicine provides a comprehensive, holistic education that equips you to see the whole patient — not just the disease.

Our College of Dental Medicine in Joplin is already setting a new standard for community-focused, technologically advanced dental education.

Our College of Health Professions will launch with its first program — the Master of Health Science in Anesthesiologist Assistant — welcoming its inaugural class in January 2026 to address a growing provider shortage.

Our program in clinical psychology is preparing mental health professionals at a time when their expertise is needed more than ever.

And our College of Biosciences offers a rigorous path to careers in research, further health education, industry and beyond — laying a foundation for discovery and innovation.

You’ll learn in facilities that reflect the future of health care. From state-of-the-art simulation centers and dental clinics to cutting-edge anatomy labs and interprofessional education spaces — your environment at KCU is designed to prepare you for the realities of modern practice.

But what truly sets KCU apart is not just the technology or the programs — it’s the people. Our faculty are not only scholars and clinicians — they are mentors, advocates and champions of your success. And you’ll find that your fellow students will become some of your closest friends and most trusted colleagues.

You are entering this profession during a time of enormous complexity. Health care is facing unprecedented challenges: workforce shortages, health inequities, global pandemics, economic constraints and more. But you are not here by accident. You were called to this path — to serve, to heal, to lead. And KCU is here to equip you with the knowledge, the resilience and the purpose to meet this moment.

So I encourage you — lean into this experience. Ask bold questions. Learn from failure. Show up for your classmates. Show compassion to your patients. And never forget why you started.

You are now part of something bigger than yourself — a community dedicated to improving the well-being of the communities we serve. That is our mission, and today, it becomes yours, too.

Now, I challenge you to exceed even your own expectations. Take advantage of every opportunity KCU offers — in the classroom, in the clinic and in the community. Push yourself to grow as a scholar, as a leader and as a person.

Your journey at KCU will shape who you become — but it’s your passion and effort that will define how far you go. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.

Thank you for choosing Kansas City University. We are proud to welcome you — and even prouder of who you will become.