An athlete and scholar, Abbie Winkelmann ’20 knows the importance of collaborating with others. Winkelmann, a biology major and chemistry and religious studies minor, has worked hard—both in and out of the classroom—during her four years at Randolph-Macon College.

Teamwork + Classwork
On the soccer field, Winkelmann and her teammates celebrated a winning team: In 2020 the Yellow Jackets won the ODAC tournament and played in the NCAA tournament, and Winkelmann was named team captain. Her academic pursuits have paid off as well: This fall she’ll begin medical school at the George Washington University School of Medical Health Sciences in conjunction with R-MC’s Early Selection partnership with GWU.

Keeping an Open Mind
At RMC, Winkelman embraced new experiences and ways of learning. She studied abroad in Iceland and Australia, attended the EDGE Boot Camp, and worked closely with staff and faculty as she set her sights on medical school. Each experience helped her become a well-rounded student, and her career aspirations reflect this. 

“I am interested in becoming a surgeon but am entering medical school with an open mind—and a lot of excitement—to learn about many different branches of medicine,” she says.

Faculty Mentorship 
Biology Professor Jim Foster, who served as Winkelmann’s advisor and mentor, also collaborated with her on a semester-long research project.

“We studied male infertility of mice, in collaboration with researchers from West Virginia University,” explains Winkelmann. “Thanks to Professor Foster’s mentorship, I conducted meaningful research that culminated in the publishing of that research in PLOS Genetics journal.  I am grateful for the opportunity to work in his lab and very excited to have my name included on a paper in a peer-reviewed journal.”

“Our contribution, which also involved Maddie Purcell ’19, was to use the transmission electron microscope (TEM) to evaluate the structure of the axoneme of infertile mice lacking the Arl2bp gene to determine the critical step of the sperm tail assembly process that relies on the ARL2BP protein,” explains Foster, the Paul H. Wornom, M.D. Professor in Biological Sciences. “Abbie quickly developed her skills on the TEM and was able to work independently. Since we didn’t really know exactly what she was going to find, it was painstaking work. For a long time the results didn’t seem to make sense, but she kept at it and eventually, after careful observation and the collection of many images, we were able to recognize that the disorganized array of microtubules was the answer. It’s really impressive that, as an undergraduate, Abbie was able to produce such excellent publication-quality images in such a short time.”

Getting the EDGE
Winkelmann is a Wornom Fellow, one of several RMC pre-med students who receive a full-tuition scholarship each year thanks to the Dr. Paul H. Wornom Pre-Medicine Endowment. The endowment also provides research, internship, and shadowing opportunities; and preparation for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).

Winkelmann worked with Josh Quinn, associate director of professional development and medical careers for the EDGE Career Center, to map out a plan that would lead to medical school. 

“Abbie has demonstrated a tenacity and drive in all her endeavors, from the soccer field to the classroom and beyond, that has resulted in her amazing success at RMC and will make he an excellent physician,” says Quinn. “She strives to motivate everyone that she interacts with to be the best that they can be and to serve the communities that she is a part of.”

Winkelmann says, “Josh helped me with everything from scheduling classes to making sure I knew all of the requirements needed for medical school. He also helped me find the best MCAT study plan and aided me throughout the application process. I am forever grateful to him.”

Gratitude
Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed her senior year—”I was looking forward to the Champions dinner, Senior Gala, and President’s picnic, and spending time with my friends”—Winkelmann is thankful for four years of Yellow Jacket memories. “I am grateful for my health, the health of my friends and family, and the enduring support of RMC, no matter where I am,” she says.