Posted 11:43 a.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025
The power of mentorship leads BonoAnno to medical school
When Emily BonoAnno, ’24, first set foot on the UW-La Crosse campus in the fall of 2020, she had one goal in mind: to become a medical doctor.
However, like many students navigating the uncertainties of a global pandemic, she wasn’t sure how to make that dream a reality. She struggled with the idea of getting her pre-med education through online courses, which had become the norm.
"My last semester of high school was online, and it made me question if online education would provide the foundational knowledge I needed to succeed," BonoAnno says.
But everything changed when an email arrived in her inbox with an invite to join the FYRE (First Year Research Exposure) program. The program would provide hands-on research opportunities, mentorship and connections with peers. It seemed too good to be true.
“At first, I thought it was a scam,” she recalls with a laugh. “But my parents encouraged me to sign up, so I gave it a chance.”
The FYRE program at UWL offered a select group of 15 incoming students the opportunity to engage in career exploration activities and enroll in gateway courses together. For BonoAnno, FYRE led to an invitation to join Biology Professor Scott Cooper’s lab where she conducted research on platelet physiology alongside other undergraduate and graduate students. It was here that BonoAnno learned lessons that went beyond textbooks, gaining insight into both science and the power of mentorship.
“I stayed, working for four years in Dr. Cooper’s lab because it felt safe. I never felt judged for any question I asked, and I learned so much every time I was there,” she says. “Dr. Cooper is caring, empathetic, and extremely supportive. He set high expectations, but he was always there to help when I made mistakes.”
Over the years, BonnoAnno recruited new students to the lab and helped mentor them, having an impact on many lives, says Cooper. “Her enthusiasm and work ethic are infectious,” he adds.
While BonoAnno loved being part of the lab, juggling part-time work, school and extracurricular activities created significant stress. Adding to it was BonoAnno’s determination to maintain a high GPA, knowing that her grades would be important on medical school applications.
That’s when the weekly check-ins with her graduate student mentor in FYRE became invaluable. More than just academic support, her mentor would inquire about her emotional health, reminding her that she was more than just her grades.
“Having someone care about me, beyond just my academic success, made a huge difference,” she says. “Talking with fellow pre-med students helped me realize that we were all going through similar struggles. It wasn’t helpful to put so much pressure on myself.”
By the time she reached her junior and senior years, BonoAnno had become a mentor in the FYRE program and even trained other peer mentors, passing along the support she had received to the next generation of students. She graduated in May 2024 with a deeper understanding of the value of mentorship and the importance of building a supportive community.
“Peer-mentoring is truly a craft that requires a lot of reflection. It was clear that Emily used her years of experience to meet students where they were at in order to make the biggest impact,” says Whitney George, FYRE program director.
Yet, despite her accomplishments in FYRE and at UWL, there were still moments of doubt on her medical school journey. When she received her MCAT scores, BonoAnno was disheartened.
But a strong source of encouragement came at just the right time: Peg Maher, professor emeritus of Biology, had witnessed her dedication in courses and commitment to extra curriculars in service organizations and healthcare.
“I knew her diverse experiences, empathic listening, and strong communication skills would be impressive to committees,” says Maher. “She is an extraordinary student who goes above and beyond what is needed to reach her goals.”
Maher took the time to go over BonoAnno’s scores with her for each section, offering honest but kind feedback. Although BonoAnno’s scores weren’t great, her overall portfolio was competitive and Maher thought she would likely be admitted and could handle the rigor of medical school.
“I told her if she didn't get any interviews, then it was likely her MCAT scores were the reason and that she could then turn her focus to preparing for a retake,” she says.
Maher’s advice helped BonoAnno summon the courage to apply.
And on October 15, 2024, BonoAnno received the news she had been waiting for.
While working a shift at Emplify Health in La Crosse, she received an email from the Medical College of Wisconsin. At first, she was bracing herself for a rejection as just a week earlier she had been denied by another school. But as she opened the email, her heart stopped.
“I had been accepted,” she says. “I think I just blacked out for a couple of seconds. I had to have co-worker read it to make sure I was seeing it right.”
After a few moments of disbelief, her supervisor encouraged her to use his office to call her parents. “I started crying when I told my mom,” she recalls.
BonoAnno will begin medical school in June 2025, with aspirations of becoming a family physician.
“Given her intelligence and ability to connect with people it is not surprising that she got in,” says Cooper. “She will be an amazing doctor.”
BonoAnno will thrive in the underserved environments where she is interested in serving and where her demonstrated resourcefulness will be a huge asset, says Maher. “I know that Emily will be a strong student, leader and mentor in medicine,” she adds.
As she reflects on her time at UWL, BonoAnno sees how her experiences in the FYRE program helped shape her future.
“I really enjoyed being a mentor to others through FYRE – being the person who could support someone mentally and emotionally,” she says. “That’s something I really needed as a freshman during the pandemic, and I’m proud I could offer that to others.”