10/14/2026
What does it take to go from an uncertain first-year student to a confident surgery resident?
For Tom Sonnanstine, his Kent State education provided the academic foundation, research experience, mentorship and leadership opportunities that helped him find his path to medicine.
As a double major in biochemistry and psychology, Sonnanstine participated in psychological research, developed relationships with faculty and grew as a leader through Flashes Fighting Hunger Kent State. He also benefited from Kent State’s Early Assurance Program with Northeast Ohio Medical University, which helped him prepare for medical school.
Location played a role, too. Kent State’s proximity to leading regional healthcare systems gave Sonnanstine access to clinical experiences and hospital partnerships that helped prepare him for residency. He ultimately matched with his top choice, Summa Health in Akron, where he now works as a surgery resident.
His experience reflects how academic preparation, hands-on learning and access to a strong regional network can help students turn their goals into careers. Read more about Tom’s path from Kent State to the operating room.
When Tom Sonnanstine V transferred to Kent State University as a second-semester freshman from Dublin, Ohio, he was recovering from a hip injury that had...
