Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
I knew immediately that at Creighton, I could really thrive as a medical school student and become the type of practitioner I wanted to be.
As a young child, Alexis Stockwell, MD’26, went to the family computer in her parents’ bedroom and started looking up information, facts and pictures about the human body. The brain, the lungs, the liver…
It’s not exactly the internet search history you’d expect from an 8-year-old who’d only recently envisioned herself becoming the next Hannah Montana.
Hours later, Stockwell’s mom was startled to find her there.
“I was like, ‘Mom, I’m going to be a doctor,’” Stockwell said.
Back then, Stockwell never could have predicted where her dream would take her or how pursuing her passion would shape her.
The goal was always to become a doctor, yes — but it wasn’t until these past four years at Creighton that Stockwell truly discovered how cura personalis and patient-centered values ignited her heart for serving others.
She went on an ILAC trip to the Dominican Republic. Then she did it again two years later.
She served at the Magis Clinic, caring for unhoused members of the community.
She was actively involved with the student-led Creighton Pediatric Interest Group, even serving as president this past year.
“I knew immediately that at Creighton, I could really thrive as a medical school student and become the type of practitioner I wanted to be,” said Stockwell, who’s now set to begin a pediatrics residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “My time at Creighton has definitely lived up to my expectations.”
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The difference that generosity makes
Stockwell’s had plenty of help along the way.
Her mom, Audra, encouraged and pushed her — they still talk almost daily. (Guess who Stockwell called the moment she left the hospital after hearing and diagnosing her first heart murmur?)
Friends and colleagues have been there for her, too. Creighton faculty have served as mentors. And the generous donors who’ve contributed to scholarships have lifted a financial burden for Stockwell, making it all possible.
“I can't even put into words how grateful I am that I get to pursue this dream of mine, all thanks to donors who are willing to give back and support students like me,” Stockwell said.
Stockwell is from St. Joseph, Mo. She’s the first member of her family to graduate from college, and she knows how life-changing a Creighton education can be.
“I really want to give back to Creighton in the same way someday,” Stockwell said. “To support the students like me who might be thinking, ‘Oh no, there’s no possible way I can go to medical school. I can't afford that.’ And show them that they can, and they deserve to achieve their dream, too.”
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The Creighton experiences that shaped her
Creighton provides medical students with authentic patient interactions and impactful teaching moments. And not all of them take place during a standard 20-minute clinical check-up.
Stockwell will never forget the people she met at the Siena Francis House in Omaha while serving through the Magis Clinic — the conversations they had, and the individualized healthcare advice she was gave. In the Dominican Republic, while learning and serving through her two trips with Creighton’s Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC), Stockwell met patients in their homes and at the clinic. She built a strong bond with her host family and got to know others within the community at events and outings.
“We were encouraged to immerse ourselves in the culture and to really get to know our patients. I can honestly say, it transforms you as a person,” Stockwell said. “We weren’t there just putting band-aids on problems. We were able to have some educational conversations with patients and help them become advocates for their own health.”
It’s why Stockwell wanted to become a doctor in the first place.
She was intrigued by the complexities of human anatomy, but inspired by the impact that a compassionate physician can make on patients’ lives.
Now, she’s ready to live out her dream.
“For me, just getting to see how Creighton as an institution prioritizes service and justice for the underserved — that has been really inspiring,” Stockwell said. “I know I've been trained to be a more empathetic physician because of my experiences here.”
