INA, Ill. (April 2, 2025) — Vanessa Coogan from Mulkeytown has reached a big milestone. A former Upward Bound student at Rend Lake College, she recently received her white coat at the Ivy League's Brown University. This important step in her dream of becoming a doctor shows how hard work, determination, and RLC programs like Upward Bound can help change lives.
Upward Bound is a federally funded college preparatory program for high school students. Coogan started with RLC's program while a freshman at Zeigler-Royalton High School.
Growing up helping her grandparents on their horse farm, Coogan naturally wanted to work in the veterinarian field. After deciding the profession might not be her career choice, she made a major change.
"[I realized] the same things that drove me to vet med also piqued my interest in human medicine," said Coogan. "I loved studying science, and biology was one of my favorite classes in high school. Through the Upward Bound program, I was able to take anatomy with cadaver lab at RLC one summer, and I absolutely fell in love with human anatomy and physiology."
Beth Hoffman, Upward Bound Program Student Advisor, shared that Coogan was one of the most academically disciplined students she has advised.
"From the time she came in, Vanessa was always wanting to do something in the medical field," said Hoffman. "She might not have known what direction, but for her the most important thing that we provided was the confidence that when she was out of school she knew she would be able to succeed in any medical field."
Coogan attending a RLC Upward Bound event
Coogan became a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) when she was 17 years old and worked in a local nursing home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though Coogan loved working and connecting with people directly, she learned that nursing would not be for her.
"I felt a passion for interacting with people and serving humanity through the integration of science, medicine, research, advocacy, and healing," shared Coogan. "I also knew I wanted to play a role in policy change and fight for equity in underserved communities and vulnerable populations. I wanted to become a doctor."
After completing the Upward Bound program, Coogan enrolled in Southern Illinois University or Carbondale (SIUC) to complete her undergraduate degree. She even joined the TRiO Student Support Services, a continuation of Upward Bound but for college students.
"Vanessa was truly one of the most self-disciplined students I have ever had," said Hoffman. "As far as academics, it was always her number one priority. While she was in Upward Bound, she attended every tutoring session and every event. She gave our program her all."
Coogan was accepted into nine medical schools, including the prestigious Brown University and University of Illinois-Chicago's (UIC) Rural Medical Education program.
Coogan and her acceptance letter to Brown University
"Initially, I was going to attend whichever school offered me more financial assistance," said Coogan. "Coincidentally, these two programs matched each other financially, making the decision more complex."
Coogan visited both campuses and was heavily considering attending UIC based on their focus on rural medicine. Then, she visited Brown at their second-look event.
"My family made me attend Brown’s second-look event by myself," she revealed. "... they didn't want anyone influencing my decision, so I flew to Providence alone. The city reminded me of home and the opportunities Brown offered its students were phenomenal. When I flew back home, my mom picked me up from the airport and asked what I thought. I had the biggest smile and told her, 'I know what I am going to do.'"
Coogan attended the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University's white coat ceremony, formally known as the Ceremony of Commitment to Medicine, on September 21, 2024.
Coogan at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University's white coat ceremony.
Coogan attributes part of her success to the Upward Bound program, the resources and opportunities RLC offered and her advisor, Hoffman.
"I do not think I would have made it where I am today without the RLC Upward Bound program," said Coogan. "The campus trips were helpful in getting an idea of what college opportunities there were. The program offered me so much support beyond college opportunities; one of the most valuable aspects of the program was having an advisor that was there to support me."
For more information about the Upward Bound program, contact Mallory Moddelmog, Director of TRiO Programs, at moddelmogm@rlc.edu or (618) 437-5321, ext. 1366.
