Hello everyone! My name is Kara Klinkebiel and I am currently a student in the MEDpath program through The Ohio State University and the College of Medicine. I am originally from Oregon but attended undergrad at California University of Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and obtained a bachelor’s degree in forensic anthropology. My journey through medicine initially started as an interest in pathology, but through volunteering at hospitals and working at a cardiology clinic, my desire to become a physician was rooted in helping others navigate through these unfamiliar experiences so they never have to feel alone or confused. I have a passion for working with LGBTQ+ youth and was a patient care aid and procedure scheduler at the local children’s hospital before moving to Ohio. I am excited to continue learning as much as I can about medicine and people and everything in-between.
While school takes up a lot of my free time, I also love to experience music and spend time with my friends. I collect vinyl records and even refurbished an old wooden turntable, so frequenting record stores is a hobby of mine. I sang in choirs all through my childhood and into college, and while that has changed to strictly singing in the car, I love going to live shows and listen to a wide range of music. I’ve moved cross-country three times for school and work and something that always remained constant was the music that fueled the soundtrack for those trips.
I am also a cat mom to a 14-year-old domestic shorthair/munchkin mix named Willow! She moved from Oregon to Columbus with me and is the best study buddy I could ask for. I am excited to get to know Columbus and explore the city while learning to navigate the professional world.