Mikayla Fraunfelder
Class Of 2017,
Alumni Spotlight: Mikayla Fraunfelder ‘17 — A future physician-scientist in the making
Some students graduate high school with a career path already in mind. Others discover their calling along the way, one class, one mentor, or one experience at a time. For Mikayla Fraunfelder, now an MD/PhD candidate at the University of Missouri, it was all of the above.
Set to graduate around 2030, she’s pursuing a dual degree that allows her to blend two passions: scientific discovery and clinical medicine. As a scientist, she investigates new drug targets to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms—a condition that, if left untreated, can be fatal. As a future physician, she plans to apply to vascular surgery residencies, bridging the gap between the lab and the operating room.
“I love my job, because all of my work allows me to ask questions, be curious, solve interesting problems, and help improve people’s lives,” she says.
Her journey began during her second year of college, when she joined a research lab and met Dr. Julie Mathieu—an influential mentor who introduced her to the world of scientific inquiry and encouraged her to think about the real-world impact of medical research. In their lab, they studied neural stem cell development and Spina bifida, a congenital disease.
“Dr. Mathieu pushed me to think about both the science and the medical implications of the diseases we studied,” she explains. “Her mentorship inspired me to look into dual degree programs and consider the path of a physician-scientist.”
That seed of curiosity—and the drive to make a difference—has only grown.
No two days are the same in her current role. Some mornings start with medical school lectures and case studies, while others are spent conducting experiments on cell and animal models of aneurysms. The best days? The ones that involve both.
“My favorite days are when I get to spend time in clinic and in the lab,” she says. “Whether it’s studying disease mechanisms or learning how to treat patients, I get to use both sides of my brain.”
Her days are packed with studying, problem-solving, collaboration, and discovery—exactly the kind of variety and challenge she thrives on.
Mikayla’s interest in medicine and science wasn’t always obvious. In fact, she admits that she didn’t like science very much in high school—until she took classes with Kathy Cella, her science teacher at CIS.
“Ms. Cella was probably my very first mentor on the path that would eventually lead me to the MD/PhD program,” she shares. “She stayed after school to help me with chemistry, and she celebrated the things I got right—even when I made mistakes.”
It was during Anatomy & Physiology, while dissecting fetal pigs and exploring the human body up close, that the idea of going to medical school truly took hold.
“That was the first time I realized: I want to study medicine.”
While Mikayla’s career path has evolved over time, one thing has remained constant: the importance of having a plan, even if that plan changes.
“When I started high school, I wanted to be an anthropologist. I took AP European History and didn’t love it. That’s when I realized I liked science more, so I planned to take Anatomy. That led me to medicine.”
Every step forward revealed more about who she was—and what she wanted to do. Her message to students is clear:
“Having a plan doesn’t mean your goals won’t change. It just means you’re always ready to take the next step forward.” And if you’re not sure where to start? Mikayla’s advice is to “Make an appointment with your academic counselor. That’s their job—to help you figure out your next step.”
From high school science labs to cutting-edge medical research, Mikayla Fraunfelder has followed her curiosity, trusted her mentors, and kept moving forward with purpose. We’re proud to celebrate her journey and can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make in both the lab and the lives of her future patients.
See where more CIS alumni are at cislions.org/cis-alumni-profiles.