Chase Davis

Think you have to attend a four-year university to begin your medical degree?

Chase Davis

After earning his Associate of Science degree from McHenry County College in 2011, he transferred to the University of Illinois (UIC) to graduate with a B.S. in Biochemistry and received his Medical Doctorate in 2017.

Now living in Phoenix, Davis is completing his internal medicine residency at Mayo Clinic Hospital and is poised to become a hospitalist in 2020. He works six 10 to 12-hour days in the neurology inpatient unit and every other month in the outpatient department.

Davis, formerly of Crystal Lake, had a clear educational goal to pursue a career in healthcare. His experience underscores the cutting-edge opportunities MCC provides to accelerate achievements and elevate expectations to launch students on their next journey-whether that's a transfer to a four-year institution, like Davis, or entry into the workforce.

"I didn't know exactly where I wanted to end up out of high school, but I knew I wanted the healthcare field, maybe become a pharmacist, "says Davis who graduated from Crystal Lake South High School.

"I saw MCC as an opportunity to start my school career off right while I could pursue extra-curricular activities like working and martial arts."

Soon after enrolling at MCC, Davis began working in the pharmacy at CVS, switching from his furniture sales position to a role that was more strategic for his career.

"The biggest lesson I learned at MCC, was how to be a passionate learner and educator," says Davis. "People say you have to start at a university if you want to go into medicine, but that just isn't true. I studied and have no debt and had teachers who were more personable and interested in my success at MCC."