Graduate Profile: Christina Messing
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.”
Messing was interested in biochemistry because it was a good fit with her desire to continue on to medical schools. She credits Biochemistry professor Joe Beckmann for making classes fun and interesting.
“The faculty all seemed very involved with their students and offered many opportunities for research and one-on-one time that I didn't feel like I could have at most other institutions.”
“I think the biggest and most important thing that my training in biochemistry allowed me to do was undergraduate research,” she says.
“I was extremely fortunate to travel with Dr. Beckmann and the Biochemistry department to Boston, Mass. to the annual American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Convention,” she says.
“I was able to formally present my research. It was an amazing experience and was something that I might not have been able to do had I not attended Alma.”
Attracted to Alma by the friendly environment and academic reputation, Messing says she had many opportunities at Alma she would not have gotten elsewhere.
“The faculty all seemed very involved with their students and offered many opportunities for research and one-on-one time that I didn't feel like I could have at most other institutions,” she says.
“I think it was very evident that I received a good education at Alma because during my first year of medical school I was able to perform very well in my first year classes.”
Graduating in 2008 with her D.O. from Michigan State, Messing plans to specialize in neurology. While at Alma, she was involved in the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, Xi Epsilon Mu chemistry honorary, Chemistry Club, Alma Ambassadors and was a teaching assistant in the organic chemistry lab.
“I am very fond of my time at Alma, and I still speak very highly of the quality of education that I received there,” she says.
