Four friends stick together in life, studies

Cut out to be doctors.

Four 2004 Fremont High School grads are now medical students; freshman at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

But Nathan Anderson, Chelsea Bloom, Linden Fornoff and Joshua Wewel were also “graduates” of St. James Preschool in Fremont.

Now, they’ve reunited after studying pre-med at four different universities.

There were early signs of charting their course.

Fornoff knew she would study medicine. From her first dissection �” a worm �” she was hooked.

As a pupil in high school science teacher Dawn Wiemer’s class, she confirmed her conviction.

“She was great. We had to dissect an eyeball ... actually see a retina. I’m interested in surgery,” Fornoff said.

“I don’t think I had a defining moment,” Wewel said. “I’m a science nerd. I like biology. Medicine’s a good fit for that.”

“I don’t think I ever considered anything else,” Bloom said.

“I was around it growing up,” Anderson said.

His father, Dr. Milo Anderson, is a physician at Prairie Fields Family Medicine in Fremont.

The students have active lives.

“It feels like you’re always busy. If not in class, we study,” Wewel said.

For the first two years, they are assigned to a local physician to shadow.

“They teach you; you have patient contact �” practice clinical skills,” Fornoff said.

A typical day for the students has lecture or lab until noon.

“Right now is our anatomy core. We go in the lab and dissect our cadavers,” Anderson said.

Except for the anatomy lab, all their classes are held at the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education.

“A brand new state-of-the-art facility,” Anderson said.

The four share what they learn.

“It’s nice to have three different opinions or perspectives,” Wewel said.

“We quiz each other,” Anderson added.

Twice a week the students study ethics as well as interviewing and clinical skills.

“Then we study �” and take a break to work out,” Bloom said.

“And eat,” Anderson added.

“(Then) repeat,” Bloom said.

Besides working out, they treat themselves to a few television shows.

Medical dramas, of course.

The four are close. They share a house.

All agreed that “med school is totally doable �” if you put in the time.”

There are 132 students in this year’s class.

They got off to a fast start.

“There was a test after Labor Day,” Fornoff said.

“The biggest surprise for me? They tell you you’ll study 40 hours a week. I thought it was an exaggeration,” Bloom said.

“They’re not joking. All you do is study,” Fornoff added.

Well, almost.

Wedding plans are blossoming for Anderson and Bloom.

They plan to carve out a life separately.

But until it’s time to cut the wedding cake next August, the four students plan to stay together.