Health Professions Advising Office - HPAO

10/17/2026

It wonderful to have HPAO Alum Chris Buss Join us for the HPAO Tailgate sponsored by Southern College of Optometry. Christopher is a 3rd Year Optometry student at SCO!! Join us! Hotty Toddy and Go Rebs!!

10/16/2026

10/16/2026

❤️🩺 **A VERY SPECIAL MEDICAL SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE!** 🎉

We are so excited to celebrate **Manning McGaugh** on an acceptance to the **University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) School of Medicine!** 🎓❤️💙

📚 Major: Dietetics & Nutrition
🧪 Minor: Health Sciences Concentration
🩺 Accepted to: UMMC School of Medicine

Manning, your hard work, dedication, and passion for medicine have brought you to this incredible milestone! We have loved being part of your journey and couldn't be prouder of all you've accomplished! ❤️

**Manning shares about the HPAO experience:**

"I absolutely would not be where I am today without HPAO! From choosing prerequisite classes to preparing for interviews, they have been an invaluable resource. I am especially thankful for Kelli Hutchens and Carmen Kennedy, who have been such an incredible source of guidance and encouragement over the past few years. I am so grateful for the time they have invested in me and cannot imagine this process without their support!"

💭 **Manning's advice to future applicants:**

"Remember your WHY, especially when things get difficult! When the MCAT, classes, and applications feel overwhelming, take time to shadow and remind yourself why you chose medicine. Spending time in a clinical setting helped me remember why all the hard work is worth it! Take advantage of HPAO's resources, give yourself grace, and remember that everyone's journey looks different. Let your WHY keep you going!"

**Congratulations, Manning! Your HPAO family is SO proud of you!** We can't wait to see all the amazing things ahead as you pursue your dream of becoming a physician! 🩺🎉❤️💙

👇 **Help us celebrate Manning!** Drop a ❤️, 🩺, or a big CONGRATULATIONS in the comments as this exciting next chapter at UMMC begins!

10/16/2026

❤️🩺 **A VERY SPECIAL MEDICAL SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE!** 🎉

We are so excited to celebrate **Audrey Case** on her acceptance to the **University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) School of Medicine!** 🎓❤️💙

📚 Major: Biological Science
🧪 Minors: Chemistry & Psychology
🩺 Accepted to: UMMC School of Medicine

Audrey, your hard work, dedication, and passion for medicine have brought you to this incredible milestone! We have loved being part of your journey and couldn't be prouder of all you've accomplished! ❤️

**Audrey shares about her experience with HPAO:**

"HPAO has played a major role in helping me achieve my dream of getting into medical school. From choosing classes and finding shadowing opportunities to preparing for mock interviews, HPAO has been a constant source of light, guidance, and support. They helped me feel confident every step of the way!"

💭 **Audrey's advice to future applicants:**

"Find the joy in everything you do. The journey to medical school can be demanding, but finding joy in the process makes it so much more meaningful. Remember why you started, appreciate the small moments, celebrate your accomplishments, and embrace every opportunity that comes your way!"

**Congratulations, Audrey! Your HPAO family is SO proud of you!** We can't wait to see all the wonderful things ahead as you pursue your dream of becoming a physician! 🩺🎉❤️💙

👇 **Help us celebrate Audrey!** Drop a ❤️, 🩺, or a big CONGRATULATIONS in the comments as she begins this exciting next chapter at UMMC!

10/16/2026

❤️🩺 **A VERY SPECIAL MEDICAL SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE!** 🎉

This one is EXTRA special and close to our hearts! ❤️💙

Help us celebrate **our very own Bryant Lewis** on his acceptance to the **University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) School of Medicine!** 🎓🩺

📚 Major: Public Health
🧪 Minors: Philosophy, Chemistry, Education & Biology
🩺 Accepted to: UMMC School of Medicine

For the past **FOUR years**, Bryant has been part of our HPAO family, working alongside us, helping students, and bringing so much to our office. We've had the privilege of watching him grow, work toward his goals, and pursue his dream of becoming a physician. Now, we get to celebrate this incredible milestone with him! 🥹❤️

**Bryant shares about his experience with HPAO:**

"HPAO has been instrumental to this acceptance. I've sat in an HPAO office trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life, and I want to thank every single advisor past and present for their support. I also want to shout out Carmen, Kelli, and Matt for their guidance as I entered the application phase. I am truly grateful to have been a part of the office."

💭 **Bryant's advice to future applicants:**

"After birth, start reading CARS passages :)" 😂📚

**From HPAO student worker to FUTURE PHYSICIAN!** 🩺🎉

**Congratulations, Bryant! Your HPAO family is SO proud of you, and we will always be cheering you on! ❤️💙**

👇 **This one deserves some EXTRA love!** Help us celebrate Bryant and his FOUR years with HPAO by filling the comments with congratulations! 🎉

10/16/2026

❤️🩺 **A VERY SPECIAL MEDICAL SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE!** 🎉

Today, we have another incredible accomplishment to celebrate! Please join us in congratulating **Erin Wilson** on her acceptance to the **University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) School of Medicine!** 🎓❤️💙

📚 Major: Nutrition
🧪 Minors: Biology & Chemistry
🩺 Accepted to: UMMC School of Medicine

One of the very best parts of what we do at HPAO is getting to celebrate moments like this! Erin, your hard work, perseverance, and dedication have brought you to this exciting milestone, and we couldn't be happier for you! Watching our students turn their dreams into reality is what makes our work so rewarding. ❤️

**Erin shares about her experience with HPAO:**

"HPAO has played a key role in helping me achieve my goal of getting into medical school. Throughout my journey, they provided invaluable resources, guidance, and support that helped me feel confident and prepared throughout the application process. From interview preparation to personalized advice, HPAO ensured that I had the tools necessary to succeed.

I am especially grateful for Kelli Hutchens, who has been absolutely amazing throughout this process. Her encouragement, dedication, and genuine investment in my success made such a difference. I truly appreciate everything HPAO has done to help me reach this milestone!"

💭 **Erin's advice to future applicants:**

"My advice to future applicants is to stay the course, trust the process, and always remember that anything is possible. The journey to medical school is not always easy, and there will be moments when you question yourself or your abilities. However, never lose sight of your goals or the reason you started. Remain confident in yourself, take advantage of the resources available to you, and remember that everyone's journey looks different."

**Erin, YOU DID IT!** 🥹🎉 We are so proud of the dedication and heart you've poured into this journey. We know you'll carry that same passion and compassion into your future career as a physician!
👇 Let's show Erin some HPAO love! Drop a ❤️, 🩺, or a big CONGRATULATIONS in the comments as she begins this exciting next chapter!

10/16/2026

❤️🩺 **A VERY SPECIAL MEDICAL SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE!** 🎉

Today, we are celebrating an incredible accomplishment! Please join us in congratulating Ali Blackburn on her acceptance to the **University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) School of Medicine!** 🎓❤️💙

📚 Major: Nutrition & Dietetics
🧪 Minors: Chemistry & Biological Science
🩺 Accepted to: UMMC School of Medicine
There is something truly special about watching a student's dreams become reality! Ali, your hard work, determination, and heart have brought you to this exciting milestone, and we couldn't be happier for you! We have loved being part of your journey and are so proud of everything you have accomplished. ❤️

Ali shares about her experience with HPAO:
"Throughout my journey, HPAO has been a constant source of support. Whether I was preparing for a mock interview or figuring out my next step, they were always there with thoughtful guidance and encouragement. HPAO made me feel genuinely supported and seen at every stage of the process.
I especially want to thank Kelli Hutchens, who has been an incredibly inspiring mentor and advisor. Her belief in me, honest feedback, and steady encouragement helped me grow in confidence and stay focused on my goals. I truly couldn't have done this without her and the entire HPAO team!"

💭 Ali's advice to future applicants:

"This journey won't always be easy, but it will be worth it! On the harder days, remember why you started and keep pushing forward. Celebrate your progress, find joy in the little moments, and give yourself grace when things don't go as planned. And please, use HPAO! They are truly amazing and will guide you every step of the way. You don't have to do this alone. Believe in yourself, trust the process, and keep going. You've got this!"

Ali, YOU DID IT! 🥹🎉 We couldn't be more excited to celebrate this moment with you! Your passion, perseverance, and commitment to helping others will serve you so well as you begin your journey toward becoming a physician.

Congratulations, Ali! Your HPAO family is SO proud of you, and we can't wait to see all the wonderful things ahead! 🩺🎓❤️💙

👇 Help us celebrate Ali in the comments below!

10/16/2026

❤️🩺 THREE PA SCHOOL ACCEPTANCES, ONE AMAZING FUTURE!🎉

We have something EXTRA special to celebrate today! Please join us in congratulating **Haley Combs McLemore** on her acceptance to not one, not two, but **THREE Physician Assistant programs!** 🎓❤️💙

📚 Major: Biology
🧪 Minors: Chemistry & SOHE

🩺 Accepted to:
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- Middle Tennessee State University
- South College – Nashville

🎉 **Haley will be attending Trevecca Nazarene University!**

There is nothing quite like watching a student's hard work, determination, and dedication turn into something this special! Haley, we have loved being part of your journey, and seeing you reach this milestone makes our HPAO hearts so happy! ❤️

**Haley shares about her experience with HPAO:**

"HPAO has helped me tremendously over the past several years during my journey to PA school. When I first started considering PA school, Kelli spent several hours with me explaining what school would look like, the things I needed to do to prepare, how to make my application competitive, and what to look for in a program. Beyond those things, HPAO has provided me with an incredible array of resources I never would have known about on my own. During my interview process, Kelli connected me with other Ole Miss alumni who had experience with the programs I was applying to. Thank you, HPAO! Even now, I take every chance I can get to brag about how awesome Kelli is!!"

💭 **Haley's advice to future applicants:**

"Work hard but always have grace for yourself. Comparison really is the thief of joy! Your application is good in its own way, even though it doesn’t look exactly like the person’s next to you. When you walk into your interviews just be yourself! You are qualified to be there as you have already put in all the work!"

Haley, THREE acceptances! What an incredible accomplishment! 🥹🎉 We are so proud of you and grateful that we had the opportunity to walk alongside you throughout this journey.

10/16/2026

❤️👁️ A VERY SPECIAL OPTOMETRY SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE! 🎉

Today, we have not one, but TWO exciting acceptances to celebrate!🎓❤️💙

We are absolutely thrilled to congratulate Olivia Williams on her acceptance to both Southern College of Optometry and The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Optometry!🥳✨

📚 Major: Integrated Marketing Communications
🧪 Minors: Chemistry & General Business
👁️ Accepted to: Southern College of Optometry & UAB School of Optometry

There is something so special about watching a student pursue a dream and seeing all that hard work turn into incredible opportunities! Olivia, your dedication, determination, and passion for your future have brought you to this exciting milestone, and we couldn't be happier for you! ❤️

**Olivia shares about her experience with HPAO:**

"HPAO has been nothing short of incredible throughout this entire journey. Their support, guidance, and encouragement made each step of the way so much easier. Words are inadequate to express my gratitude for HPAO’s role in helping me achieve this dream!"

💭 **Olivia's advice to future applicants:**

"Trust in your abilities. Some days are hard, and it can be incredibly easy to compare yourself to others. Remember that you felt called to pursue a career in healthcare for a reason. You are much more capable than you think!"

**Olivia, TWO acceptances! What an incredible accomplishment!** 🎉 We are so thankful to have been part of your journey and couldn't be more excited to see where this next chapter takes you. We know you have a bright future ahead, and we can't wait to watch you accomplish even more as you pursue your dream of becoming an optometrist! 👁️🩺

**Congratulations, Olivia! Your HPAO family is SO proud of you and cheering you on every step of the way! ❤️💙**

👇 **Let's show Olivia some HPAO love!** Drop a ❤️, 🎉, or a special congratulations in the comments to help us celebrate her TWO amazing acceptances! 🎓✨

10/16/2026

❤️🩺 A VERY SPECIAL PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE! 🎉

We are so excited to celebrate Orlandria Smith on her acceptance to the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Southern Mississippi! 🎓✨

📚 Major: Exercise Science
🧬 Minor: Biology
🩺 Accepted to: University of Southern Mississippi — Physician Assistant Program

This accomplishment is a reflection of Orlandria’s hard work, dedication, and determination. We have loved being part of her journey and are incredibly proud of all she has accomplished! ❤️

Orlandria shares about her experience with HPAO:
"HPAO has helped me excel throughout this journey and has played an important role in helping me pursue a career in healthcare. Their guidance and support throughout my years at Ole Miss have helped me grow academically as I take the next steps toward my dream of becoming a Physician Assistant. I will forever be grateful for the countless resources, opportunities, and encouragement they have provided me along the way."

💭 Orlandria’s advice to future applicants:
"Trust the process, take advantage of the many opportunities HPAO has to offer, and build strong study habits. Each step along the way is helping prepare you for where you’re meant to be!"

This is such an exciting milestone, and we can’t wait to see Orlandria take this next step toward becoming a Physician Assistant! 🩺✨

Congratulations, Orlandria! Your HPAO family is SO proud of you! 🎉🩺❤️💙**

👇 Help us celebrate Orlandria in the comments as she begins this exciting new chapter!
Drop a ❤️, 🩺, or a few words of congratulations!