After attending Falk Laboratory School from kindergarten through eighth grade, alumna Kellsey Medsger began building a career in healthcare, a dream she's had since childhood.

“I think I always knew I wanted to be in medicine. My mom says I used to ask to watch ‘the doctor show’ when I was younger, which meant that show on Discovery Health that’s about the emergency room,” she says with a laugh. 

After graduating from Oakland Catholic High School in 2016, Kellsey received a B.S. in Psychology from Dennison University, then returned to Oakland for an M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Despite knowing from a young age that she wanted to work in medicine, she says her exact career path was less clear and wisely reflects that that’s okay. 

Kellsey at her graduation from the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in December 2023

“You can study one thing in college and then choose a completely different career path,” she says. “You can work in medicine and take care of people in your community without taking a traditional medical school route. There are so many different roles in the healthcare field if you’re interested in healthcare.” 

In 2024, Kellsey and her husband moved to western New York, where she practices internal and family medicine as a primary care provider. “I’m working at a federally qualified health center in Buffalo, which just means that we get federal funding because we serve medically underserved communities. A lot of our patients are refugees, immigrants, people who are on Medicaid/Medicare, [or] who have transportation or language barriers. I really, every single day, see the way that this hard work impacts the community in a large way, and I feel like I’m learning a lot.” 

Back at Falk, Kellsey says her days were spent as a curious, shy bookworm, soaking up all the lessons Falk had to offer, academic and otherwise. "Something I’m really passionate about is caring for those around [me],” and the teachers and staff at Falk were strong role models in this area, she reflects. “I feel like they really got to know me, from when I was really little to when I left. My brothers and I went through some [personal] struggles, and I strongly remember a lot of the teachers who noticed that and knew us well and were super supportive about [our] situation.”

Kellsey and her brother Tyle (Falk '14) at her white coat ceremony

In addition to being inspired by her teachers’ compassion, Kellsey had family members in the healthcare industry who showed her what was possible. “My grandpa is a retired physician, my mom is on the mental health side of things, my grandma’s a nurse, and being at Falk and in Oakland, you hear about Jonah Salk and the history there.”

Plus, she adds, “The experience at Falk leads you to be aware that you can do whatever you want to do. There are so many opportunities.” While many people grow up thinking there are a set number of paths in life, Kellsey says Falk broke that mold. Like many fellow alumni, she continues to rely on the curiosity and firm sense of self she developed as a young student. All these years later, “It means something that all of us identify with [Falk].”

Outside of work, Kellsey is still an avid reader, living up to her Falkie reputation of always having her nose in a book. She and her husband also love to cook and travel, perhaps inspired by the countless field trips and adventures she remembers from her school days. Reflecting on her path in life thus far, it wouldn’t be the only passion that took root at Falk and continues to blossom today. “It definitely was the starting point for everything,” Kellsey says. 

Kellsey and her husband on a recent trip to Ireland