Match made at KCU: Growth, grit and the power of exploration

By the time Alexandra Lawlor, DO, MPH, opened her Match Day email, she knew one thing for certain: she had given the process everything she had. That confidence was built over years of discovery and clinical preparation, and it ultimately led her to dermatology.

Like many medical students, Lawlor entered medical school with curiosity, ambition and an openness to possibility. What grounded her from the beginning was a clear motivation to help patients feel informed, empowered and truly cared for.

“A lot of my draw to medicine was this desire to help patients through educating them and really feeling like I was partnering with them,” Lawlor said. “That philosophy of patient-centered care and treating patients as whole people really aligned with osteopathic medicine.”

That mindset led her to Kansas City University (KCU), where she was searching not just for a medical degree, but for an education that would prepare her to be a confident, well-rounded physician.

“I wanted what I felt like was the best education I could get,” she said. “KCU’s reputation for preparing students academically and clinically really stood out.”

As Lawlor progressed through medical school, her specialty interests evolved, a process she now views as one of her greatest strengths. She entered with an interest in physical medicine and rehabilitation, explored internal medicine and subspecialties such as cardiology and hematology-oncology, and found herself drawn to different aspects of each field.

Through clinical rotations and conversations with preceptors and mentors, patterns began to emerge. Lawlor consistently gravitated toward visual diagnosis, patient interaction and procedural work, clues that eventually pointed her toward dermatology.

“Every preceptor kept telling me, ‘You should really look at dermatology,’ based on what I loved about other specialties,” she said. “Once I did my first dermatology rotation, I didn’t look back.”

When she learned she had matched into dermatology at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital in her hometown of Jacksonville, the moment carried the weight of years of hard work, uncertainty and growth.

“When you work so hard for four years and it pays off in a specialty that feels like home, it’s indescribable,” Lawlor said. “It was pride, excitement and a huge sense of relief.”

Lawlor’s journey reflects a broader distinction at KCU, where students are supported through strong clinical training, mentorship and a whole-person approach to care. In fact, 81.3 percent of KCU Class of 2025 osteopathic medical students matched into their desired specialty. Even in dermatology—widely considered the most competitive specialty—three of the 36 osteopathic medical students who matched across the country came from KCU.

Looking back, she reflects on Match Day with confidence, not because the process was easy, but because she knew she had approached it with intention.

“I had this calm knowing that I gave it my all,” she said.

Now in her first year of residency, Lawlor encourages current and prospective students to focus less on checking boxes and more on becoming excellent physicians.

“Focus on being the best doctor you can be,” she said. “Every rotation, I just tried to be the best medical student I could be in that specialty.”

That approach, she believes, naturally builds toward strong outcomes.

“All of those experiences become tools in your tool belt,” she said. “If you focus on being a great doctor, matching into a competitive specialty naturally follows.”

Lawlor’s story offers reassurance that it’s okay not to have everything figured out on day one. With the right preparation, guidance and commitment to patient-centered care, the path forward can come into focus—one rotation, one lesson and one patient at a time.