Heart for humanity fuels pre-med student’s goal to become doctor
OGDEN, Utah — In 2023, while working a summer job at her uncle’s restaurant in Madrid, Elena Campbell set some surprising goals for her future.
“I was learning about Spain’s medical system,” said Campbell, a Utah native and graduate of Northridge High School. “There’s a whole different group of medical professionals there, and it’s not like here in the U.S. That opened up a lot of conversations about how healthcare works and how I could help.”
Campbell had initially developed an interest in physiology during a neuropsychology class at Weber State University, but she said it was that summer in Spain that ultimately fueled her desire to become a doctor.
Now she’s part of the pre-medical program at Weber State, studying microbiology with a minor in chemistry. There are about 400 pre-med students currently studying at WSU.
“Science-based degrees make it easier to get into the medical field,” Campbell said. “There’s a lot of other degrees that work well for pre-med, but microbiology gives you a unique perspective on medicine.”
Campbell is also minoring in Spanish, partly inspired by her time in Spain, where she added to words and phrases she’d learned growing up with a Peruvian mother and Spanish-speaking father.
Still exploring what realm of healthcare she’ll pursue professionally, Campbell is already immersed in the medical field. She works at Ogden’s McKay-Dee Hospital as a specimen processor, where she preps blood and other samples for lab tests. She also volunteers at the Pregnancy Medical Clinic in Roy, which serves people who are facing unexpected or difficult pregnancies.
“The reason I want to become a doctor isn’t for the title or the money,” Campbell said. “I want to serve people. And to serve people in the way I feel called to, I need that extra education and training.”
Campbell is involved with WSU’s InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, where she’s bonded with other students on campus. She also enjoys skiing and rock climbing.
She’s on track to graduate from WSU in spring 2026 and plans to apply for medical school this summer.
“I’ve loved my time at Weber State,” Campbell said. “You definitely get what you put in here, and I’ve had a lot of opportunities to learn and grow.”
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu- Contact:
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu