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David Lapham

Graduate Profile: David Lapham

David Lapham appreciates the challenge of the biochemistry major and feels it will give him an edge in medical school.

“Biochemistry integrates the best of the two fields, and puts them into a context that makes the subject you study relevant to every day life,” the 2008 graduate says.

“With biochemistry becoming more and more popular in the field of medical research, the techniques I have learned as an undergraduate will really help,” he says.

Lapham has also had the opportunity to pursue independent research under the guidance of Dr. Joe Beckmann.

With biochemistry becoming more and more popular in the field of medical research, the techniques I have learned as an undergraduate will really help.

“Dr. Beckmann is always actively involved in pursuing areas of research that will allow any student who expresses an interest to be able to participate,” he says.

Drawn to Alma by the cadaver lab and the reputation of the pre-med program, he also was impressed with the friendliness of the campus.

That friendliness was especially beneficial to Lapham, as he met his future wife at Alma and the two were married on campus in the spring of 2008.

He played trumpet in the jazz ensemble and was involved in Alpha Phi Omega and Chi Epsilon Mu, the chemistry honorary. He also volunteered at the hospital as part of Gratiot Area Physicians and Students (GAPS), shadowed doctors, played with the Alma Symphony Orchestra and worked as a chemistry teaching assistant and a student admissions representative.

 

The Alma College Percussion Ensemble performed at the prestigious Centrum Jazz Festival, an international festival in Port Townsend, Wash., in July 2007. Alma was the only college group invited to perform. "It's a huge honor," says faculty director Dave Zerbe. "You can't apply to perform there; they seek you out."

 

Graduate Profile

Christina Messing
Graduation: 2004
Major: Biochemistry

Christina Messing frequently uses the material she learned as a biochemistry major at Alma College in her final year of medical school at Michigan State University.

“The knowledge I acquired at Alma is something that I still use often in my career in medicine,” the 2004 graduate says. “Biochemistry is a very substantial part of understanding medicine and pharmacology, so I use it very frequently.”