August 31, 2026
Mizzou Engineering students in the School of Medicine’s PEN Program are strengthening the physician workforce and advancing Mizzou’s mission to save and improve lives.
The School of Medicine is launching a pathways program for engineering students who also want to be physicians.
While most premedical students major in biology or chemistry, engineers bring a unique perspective to medicine. Their training emphasizes systems thinking, innovation and complex problem-solving — skills that are increasingly valuable in healthcare.
To build on those strengths, the School of Medicine has established the PEN Physician Engineers Pre-Admission Program for sophomore engineering students at Mizzou and the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Selected students will gain medical exposure with an engineering-focused twist on the PAWS Pathways to Success Program. They’ll meet physicians who began their careers as engineers, engage with biomedical researchers and gain firsthand insight into how engineering principles are shaping advancements in diagnostics and patient care.
The first four PEN scholars were recognized at an Aug. 27 reception at the School of Medicine’s Patient-Centered Care Learning Center.
Asrith Amaravadi
For Asrith Amaravadi of Naperville, Illinois, biomedical engineering represents a perfect fit between his strengths in creative problem-solving and his passion for healthcare. He intends to become an orthopedic surgeon with a sports medicine subspecialty and wants to make patients feel comfortable, confident and fully satisfied in their care.
“Medicine has become increasingly patient-centered. I aim to take that step further by building more genuine connections with my patients by not only understanding their conditions but also their individual goals and circumstances,” he said.
Riley Dycus
Riley Dycus of Centralia was inspired to study biomedical engineering by his grandfather, an engineer who worked on the Apollo space missions.
“He encouraged me to think about how I could apply engineering principles to my interest in healthcare, showing me that engineering could be a tool for solving meaningful problems and improving people’s lives,” he said.
Dycus hopes to become a physician innovator who identifies unmet needs in patient care and develops practical, patient-centered solutions. He is particularly interested in medical devices and technologies that can improve care in rural and resource-limited settings.
Emma Herrmann
Emma Herrmann discovered her passion for biological engineering when designing an irrigation system for her family’s orchard in Chesterfield.
“Building a watering system and continuously observing the trees’ health was both exciting and fulfilling,” she said. “Biological engineering gave me the freedom to explore both agricultural and medical tracts of engineering before solidifying a path.”
As a physician engineer, Hermann wants to bridge the gap between research and real-world clinical results through observation of individual responses to treatment.
“Medicine often relies on imperfect options to treat complex biological problems,” she said. “I hope to engineer solutions that produce more consistent outcomes within clinical practice while improving individual patient experience.”
Luke Snyder
Chemical engineering major Luke Snyder of Wildwood had always been interested in engineering but discovered an interest in chemistry in high school. He looks forward to doing work that helps others, directly or indirectly.
“I would love to develop environmentally friendly alternatives to various things like PPE [personal protective equipment] to reduce the amount of plastic waste going into our environment,” he said.
The PEN Program is yet another example of the University of Missouri’s commitment to developing tomorrow’s healthcare professionals. By expanding opportunities aligned to our mission to serve all Missourians, we are strengthening the physician workforce and advancing our mission: to save and improve lives.
Want to join the next-generation workforce of patient-centered physicians? Explore the Physician Engineers Pre-Admission Program.