WKU News

Obadiah Kirk (MHC '20) has been busy applying to medical schools, conducting an Honors Capstone Experience/Thesis project, and traveling.

Originally from Nashville, Obadiah is currently a senior at WKU studying Exercise Science with a pre-med concentration. His CE/T project, "The role of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) in heart failure and its implication for cardiac recovery" works to understand why MPC1 promotes cardiac recovery. This research gives way to helping remove patients off transplant waiting lists and providing new resources for those in need.

In Fall 2019, Obadiah participated in a WKU National Student Exchange program in Manoa, Hawaii. During his semester there, he studied, surfed, and explored volcanoes. He also volunteered as an NCAA athletic tutor - helping local students with their academics.

At the end of March, Obadiah will travel to the National Human Genome Research Institute to present his CE/T research at a National Institutes of Health (NIH) conference. In the meantime, he's busy studying for exams (including the MCAT) and planning summer travel before he heads off to med school.

We're beyond proud of your endeavors - keep pursuing those Big Dreams, Obadiah!