Medical Student Biographies (Class of 2027)
Justine Farrell is from Troy, Missouri, and earned her undergraduate degree from Spring Hill College. She is a medical student at A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is expected to graduate as part of the Class of 2027.
Justine’s interest in medicine began in high school during an AP anatomy class, where she was fascinated by the complexity of the human body. Since then, she has pursued opportunities in pediatrics and women’s health, volunteering at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in St. Louis and USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. She also draws inspiration from her younger sister, who works as a speech pathologist.
Justine values the meaningful, personal connections formed between physicians and patients. Currently interested in pediatrics, and she hopes to gain a broad view of patient care at Phelps Health. Justine is eager to learn both the science of medicine and the art of building trust with patients and care teams.
Outside of school, she enjoys being outdoors, attending concerts and spending time with friends. A former Rotaract president in Kirksville, Justine looks forward to volunteering with the Rotary Club of Rolla.
Hailey Derifield is from Plainfield, Iowa, and earned her undergraduate degree in neuroscience from Wartburg College. She is a medical student at A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is expected to graduate as part of the Class of 2027.
Hailey’s interest in medicine began early, as she spent time at the hospital where her mom worked as a cardiac nurse. That early medical exposure grew into a deep passion for healthcare. Her experience as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) during the pandemic shaped her understanding of compassionate care and strengthened her desire to become a physician.
At Phelps Health, Hailey looks forward to hands-on learning and exploring various specialties to help guide her future career path. She’s especially interested in holistic care and lifestyle medicine and is excited to work alongside experienced care teams.
Outside of school, Hailey enjoys time with her husband and dog, hiking, working out, true-crime podcasts, and all things self-care. She also volunteers regularly at a nursing home and with individuals with developmental disabilities.
Jordan Lubell hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned his undergraduate degree in cognitive science from Case Western Reserve University. He is a medical student at A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is expected to graduate as part of the Class of 2027.
Jordan was drawn to medicine through personal experience—watching a cousin’s struggle with a mysterious illness sparked his interest in patient care and the power of being heard. His work with Camp Kesem and Title IX survivors further deepened his passion for connecting with people during times of crisis.
With both parents in pediatrics and a grandfather who practiced dermatology, medicine has long been a part of Jordan’s life. He’s now pursuing pediatrics himself, where he hopes to blend problem-solving with empathy and cultural understanding. At Phelps Health, Jordan looks forward to growing his clinical and communication skills while becoming part of the community.
In his free time, Jordan enjoys playing tennis, listening to music, traveling and watching movies. He also volunteers regularly—most recently tutoring students in Kirksville—and is excited to find similar opportunities in Rolla.
Emily Lorene Pick is from Columbus, Nebraska, and earned her undergraduate degree in biology and psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is a medical student at A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is expected to graduate as part of the Class of 2027.
Emily’s interest in medicine began early, after being diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (a hip condition) as a child. Her pediatrician’s kindness and clarity during that difficult time made a lasting impact. Later, inspired by her aunt, an anesthesiologist, and through years of experience as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), Emily knew she wanted to become a physician.
She is especially drawn to pediatrics, internal medicine and anesthesiology. At Phelps Health, Emily looks forward to applying her classroom knowledge in clinical settings, gaining exposure to rural medicine and exploring which specialty best aligns with her goals.
Outside of school, she enjoys volunteering—especially tutoring kids and helping at soup kitchens—and is hoping to find local organizations to get involved with in Rolla. Emily also loves hiking with her dog Daisy, baking, painting, working out and thrifting.
Medical Student Biographies (Class of 2026)
Justin Britt is from Richland, Missouri, and earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Truman State University. He is a medical student at A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is expected to graduate as part of the Class of 2026. Medicine is personal for Justin. After watching his grandmother fight multiple myeloma (a blood cancer), he became interested in anatomy, physiology and health in general. Her caring providers inspired Justin to also want to help others. And medicine is a family business. Justin’s mom is a nurse at an internal medicine clinic, and his sister works in cardiac rehab. He is considering specializing in neurology or anesthesia and is fascinated by regenerative medicine. At Phelps Health, Justin hopes to grow his skills as a young physician and gain valuable healthcare knowledge and experience. Outside of school, he loves going to the gym and powerlifting. He also enjoys anything outdoors, including fishing, hunting and archery.
Mariah Hall is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Langton University. She is a medical student at A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is expected to graduate as part of the Class of 2026. Mariah grew up in a family with significant health problems, piquing her healthcare interest from an early age. She loves helping others and sees becoming a physician as one of the ultimate ways to give back to one’s community. At this time, Mariah is interested in family medicine or anesthesiology. She’s excited to apply her classroom knowledge to a clinical setting at Phelps Health. In her downtime, Mariah loves going to the movies and, in another life, she might have been a movie critic. She also enjoys reading books (especially fiction) and baking. Mariah volunteers with a crisis text line and is looking forward to finding local service opportunities.
Alaina Henry hails from Waterloo, Illinois, and graduated from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Science in health sciences. She is a medical student at A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is expected to graduate as part of the Class of 2026. Alaina is a first-generation medical student and initially became interested in healthcare after volunteering at a hospital. She went on to work in an ER (emergency room) for 2.5 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this stressful time, Alaina was inspired by the physicians’ abilities to lead their teams and help their patients through a variety of diseases. She plans to specialize in emergency medicine, as she’s drawn to the investigative aspect of medicine. At Phelps Health, she’s excited to gain hands-on experience in a wide variety of specialties. Alaina is a big Cardinals baseball fan and loves spending time with her family. She has a variety of interests, including cooking, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and playing with her black lab, May. While in Kirksville, Alaina volunteered on an AED electronic mapping project, helping locate defibrillators for first responders. She hopes to continue this work in Rolla.
Tony Ho is from St. Charles, Missouri. He graduated from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. Tony is a medical student at A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is expected to graduate as part of the Class of 2026. He is a first-generation student, both in college and in medical school, which signifies that he is the first member of his family to undertake higher education and pursue a career in medicine. In high school, Tony volunteered at hospitals, fueling his interest in healthcare. He is currently trying to decide between specializing in family or internal medicine. When he’s not studying, Tony can be found playing tennis, gaming, working out or cooking. He considers himself a home cook and enjoys cooking for others and testing new recipes.