Ariana Ruffin ’21, now a medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, was the 2021 Southern Conference indoor 400-meter champion as a cadet-athlete.—Photo courtesy Ruffin.
When Ariana Ruffin ’21 matriculated in August 2017, she arrived knowing two things. First, she was going to run track for VMI—which she did with significant success, becoming the 2021 Southern Conference indoor 400-meter champion. Second, she would pursue a medical career—which she is doing now at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“I always wanted to be in the medical field, but initially I didn’t know which directions to go,” said Ruffin. “At first, I wanted to be a veterinarian, and I watched the channel Animal Planet constantly.” It was when she began running competitively that her current direction was set.
“Before I started running, I had no idea that medicine was bigger than pediatrics. Dealing with a sports medicine specialist changed that.” When an aunt fell ill and was hospitalized, Ruffin encountered another side of medicine, an experience that confirmed her direction. “The doctors and nurses treating my aunt explained her conditions and the required treatments in a caring and comforting way. I could see myself doing that.”
Although Ruffin was determined to become a physician, she did not immediately head to medical school after graduation. Instead, she attended the University of South Alabama, where she pursued a master’s degree in biology. In 2023, she took what she calls a “gap year,” working as a medical assistant in a dermatology practice. She entered PCOM in fall 2024 but had to withdraw in the first semester to deal with a health problem. Restarting at PCOM in autumn 2025, she now is in her second year of medical school.
Asked why she decided to attend an osteopathic medical school, Ruffin replied, “Osteopathy is characterized by a more hands-on approach; it is a call to be more holistic. In practice, you look beyond the symptoms and try to discern the causes behind them. If someone has back pain, for example, your goal is to not to just stop the pain, but restore the patient’s back to its original, healthy state.”
In the future, Ruffin plans to pursue a specialty where she can apply her osteopathic training. “Osteopathy will be another tool that I’ll have available,” she explains. Right now, she is considering physical medicine and rehabilitation, which combines neuroscience and musculoskeletal science.
In a 2021 VMI Alumni Agencies article, Ruffin had high praise for her professors in the Institute’s biology department and said that, because of them, the department felt “homey.” Asked if there were any professors who were particularly helpful to her, she pointed out three: Col. Wade Bell, Ph.D., biology department head; Maj. Molly Kent, Ph.D.; and Maj. Mary Beth Manjerovic, Ph.D. “They urged me to continue to aim at a medical career and helped bolster my confidence in my capability for higher education. Major Kent’s classes in neuroscience and physiology helped me sharpen my focus as to a future career path. They also helped me prepare for the interviews that every prospective medical student will encounter.”
Ruffin’s VMI experience has been valuable in medical school. “I often say that while medical school is hard, it’s not the hardest thing I’ve done. VMI was. Being a cadet-athlete at a military school was challenging, but it instilled in me a lot of grit. It made me a better leader and a better mentor, and it made me comfortable in rooms where no one else looks like me.” Her VMI experience has helped in other ways, too. “When I went for my interview at PCOM, the people talking with me didn’t ask the usual interview questions,” she laughed. “They wanted to know what VMI was all about and what it is like to be a VMI cadet.”
“I often say that while medical school is hard, it’s not the hardest thing I’ve done. VMI was. Being a cadet-athlete at a military school was challenging, but it instilled in me a lot of grit. It made me a better leader and a better mentor, and it made me comfortable in rooms where no one else looks like me.”
Ariana Ruffin ’21
With all she has been doing, Ruffin somehow found the time to establish a nonprofit organization. During the 8-month gap between her first semester at PCOM and her return, she taught biology in a West Philadelphia high school. When many of the students discovered that she was going to be a doctor, they asked her for guidance on how they could pursue a medical career. To meet this need, Ruffin established an after-school club and brought in guest speakers to talk with the students once a week during the school year. The response was so positive that she established ImJustMeddd, an organization devoted to providing mentorship to young people interested in working in health care. “I wanted to show the students the full spectrum of opportunities in the field,” said Ruffin. “So, I’ve invited dental students from Temple University, pediatricians, physical therapists, and technicians to the school.” Eventually, Ruffin wants to expand the program to more schools in the Philadelphia area, as well as establish a scholarship fund to support students pursuing careers in the broad medical field.
Although she didn’t return for her class’ fifth reunion—she was studying for two exams—she did recount three of her more cherished VMI memories. “First and foremost, graduation. Getting my diploma was symbolic of all the hard work I had done as a cadet in the classroom, on the track, and in barracks. It was special, too, because I had set myself the goal of graduating with academic stars, and I achieved it. So, graduation represented achievement, as well as completion.”
Another great memory for Ruffin was becoming the Southern Conference champion in the indoor 400-meter race. It was not just an athletic achievement, she points out. “In my 1st Class year, the COVID-19 pandemic and the response to it were significant concerns. So, I worked hard not only in training, but also to take care of myself and protect my body.”
“Breakout is another great memory for me,” Ruffin remembered. “It might seem strange, I think, because, at the end of it all, I had never been so tired. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep a couple of times at the Breakout dinner. But the next day, I felt great. I was still a 4th with no privileges, but the grass was greener, the birds sang louder, and the sun shone brighter. I remember thinking, ‘I can be a normal person now. No one will yell at me.’ I know that is something that outsiders to VMI won’t get, but alumni will understand.”
Asked where she sees herself 5 years from now, she replied. “I’ll be in residency in my hometown, Philadelphia, and being the best possible physician in my chosen specialty. I’d want to grow my nonprofit into a big deal that showcases the possibilities of becoming a physician from a minority background and as a first-generation college graduate.”
Ruffin’s final thoughts were about VMI. “I’m glad I made the decision to go to VMI. I had offers of full-ride scholarships from other institutions. But when I visited the biology department, I knew I wouldn’t be just a number. I’m grateful for the opportunities and experiences I had at VMI, and I’m happy I stuck it out.”
The communications officer supports the strategy for all communications, including web content, public relations messages and collateral pieces in order to articulate and promote the mission of the VMI Alumni Agencies and promote philanthropy among varied constituencies.
