Medical school is often described as a journey filled with challenges, long hours and a commitment to helping others. For a few Des Moines University Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2028 students, that journey recently took on a more personal meaning. Mark Nemcek, Jackson Watson, Donald Walk and Lane Mulder shaved their heads as part of a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event, standing in solidarity with their friend and fellow student, Tanner Kelm, who had childhood cancer.
For Walk, participating in the event was a way to contribute to a cause that affects so many lives. “Everyone has someone — a loved one, a family member or a friend — who has been affected by cancer,” he says. “The more you learn about how difficult it is to get research funding, the more you realize how important it is to contribute in any way you can.”
Watson’s decision was also personal. A friend’s younger sister was recently diagnosed with cancer, and though her prognosis is good, she will still lose her hair during treatment. “I think it’s because of events like this that her cancer is so curable,” Watson says. “When people contribute in any way they can, they’re helping kids like her.”
Though Kelm insists the event is not about him, he acknowledges the power of coming together for a cause, and a haircut. “It means more that we had a team effort, so nobody had to do it alone,” Kelm says. “It’s still a hard thing to do by yourself. Taking that step alone would be scary.”
Kelms’ experience with childhood cancer shaped more than just this moment — it set him on the path to medical school. “I originally was going to study engineering,” Kelm says. “But after missing my first year of college because of treatment, I decided to go to a different school that had a better pre-med track. And now I’m here.”
For these students, medical school isn’t just about learning medicine — it’s about building a community that supports one another, inside and outside the classroom. “The beauty of med school is the community and support system you create to get through any obstacle, no matter how overwhelming it seems,” Walk says. “This is the kind of family I’ve found at DMU.”
The act of shaving their heads may seem small compared to the challenges faced by those battling cancer, but it is a powerful symbol of commitment — not just to their friend, but to the kind of doctors they hope to become. As Kelm put it, “Medical professionals make a lot of sacrifices to help people. While this isn’t exactly that, I think it shows a willingness to do so.”