By Katie Mullin
From November 7 to 9, 2025, Alpha Epsilon Delta successfully took 40 members to
Chicago for our first Pre-Health Chicago Trek, a project that began as an ambitious idea and
grew into one of the most meaningful experiences our chapter has had. As President of AED, I
was especially excited to support our Treasurer, Alex Thweni, who first proposed the idea and
took the lead in coordinating the trip. His vision for creating professional development
opportunities for our members inspired this project, and together, with the support from the BLI
grant, we were able to bring it to life.
A highlight of the weekend was our visit to Rush Medical College. The admissions team
at Rush provided our group with a comprehensive presentation about the medical admissions
process, while a panel of current medical students provided insight into their experiences,
challenges, and daily routines. After the panel, medical students guided us through a full tour of
the school. We explored the clinical facilities, anatomy lab, and study areas, which helped our
members better visualize themselves in a medical school environment. This visit allowed our
members to strengthen their understanding of the experiences that lay ahead, providing valuable
insight that will guide them through applications, interviews, and academic planning.
Although Rush was the cornerstone of our professional programming, flexibility became
an important theme during the trip. When scheduling conflicts prevented us from touring a PA
program and Dental School, we relied on the BLI habits we emphasized in our proposal,
especially Build a Team and Pause and Reflect. After discussing our options, we decided to visit
the International Museum of Surgical Science. This pivot ended up being an unexpected
highlight. The museum’s detailed exhibits on surgical innovation, historical medical tools, and
the evolution of clinical practice gave our members a deeper appreciation for the history of
healthcare and sparked many meaningful conversations.
In addition to the trek’s professional development opportunities, the Chicago trip also
helped strengthen our chapter’s community. Since AED includes members pursuing different
healthcare paths, spending dedicated time together helped unify students across medical, dental,
PA, and other interests. We were able to bond as a group by completing an escape room together,
exploring iconic Chicago landmarks such as the Bean, and sharing meals at Portillo’s and Gino’s
East. These shared experiences helped deepen friendships and strengthen the support network
within our chapter’s community.
While planning and executing the various components of the trek, our team demonstrated
real leadership growth. Coordinating housing, transportation, communication, and group
activities required collaboration, clear roles, and accountability. When plans changed, members
stepped up with adaptability and positivity. Leadership emerged in many forms, such as guiding
smaller groups through the city, checking in with peers, and offering creative suggestions to keep
the weekend running smoothly. These experiences reflected the BLI habits we committed to
integrating and demonstrated how leadership is cultivated through teamwork, reflection, and
shared responsibility.
Looking ahead, we are excited to make the Chicago Trek a new AED tradition. Since this
was our chapter’s first time organizing a trip to Chicago, we gained valuable lessons about
planning, scheduling, flexibility, and group coordination. These insights will directly support the
future AED Executive Board as they plan the next trek and continue to improve the experience
for members. Overall, the Chicago Trek was a successful and meaningful experience that
provided professional insight, strengthened our community, and allowed our members to practice
leadership in a real-world setting. We are grateful for the support of the BLI and excited to
continue developing this project into a lasting tradition
