Mom of seven returns to school at Weber State, follows dreams of becoming a doctor
OGDEN, Utah — Erin Buell helped four of her seven children pursue pre-medical education tracks before deciding it was her turn.
At 47 years old, she enrolled at Weber State University to meet the requirements for medical school.
“When my youngest daughter started first grade, I had a lot of me time,” Buell said. “I looked around and was like, ‘I can sit in my house cleaning, reading books, exercising, quilting — all really fun, good things — or I can do something different.’”
She’d always had an interest in medicine and was ready for a change. 
“People think it’s a little novel that somebody my age would come back to school and want to go to medical school,” Buell said. “But if I didn’t start now, when would I?”
Weber State’s pre-medical professional programs provide pathways for students interested in medical school and other advanced programs. Buell is majoring in biochemistry, and pre-med advisors help her prepare for the next steps of becoming a physician.
“The Biochemistry Program within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is uniquely positioned to prepare students for a variety of post-graduate pathways, including medical school,” said Brandon Burnett, department chair. “We require students to think about problems from the foundational, atomic level, focusing on problem-solving rather than rote memorization. We also engage students in collaborative undergraduate research that allows them to apply classroom theories to real-world problems. Our students enter medical school with the high level of theoretical and applicable skills necessary to become highly qualified physicians.”
Buell was a 2025–26 Presidential Leadership Fellow, part of a cohort of students focused on leadership and engagement. She’s also an anatomy teaching assistant, engaged in multiple research projects, and a volunteer at Seager Memorial Clinic in Ogden.
Her involvement will help with medical school applications, and it’s helped her find a supportive community on campus.
“I’m at a place where all my options are open,” Buell said. “I have found a community here. It’s not just attending classes; I have a lot of connections. My brain has lit up here.”
Buell already holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies and a Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University, which she expects will be useful as she advances in medicine.
She’s preparing for the medical school admissions exam, the MCAT, and is applying to medical schools for fall 2027.
Meanwhile, her children are at various stages of their own medical journeys. Her oldest daughter, Mari Kobe, recently finished her first year of medical school. And her 21-year-old-son, David Kobe, will soon return from a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before starting medical school in July.
“We’ll have a family of doctors,’ Buell said. “My kids always joke, ‘If we all work in the same hospital, and they page Dr. Kobe, who’s going to answer?’”
Buell’s three oldest children went to high school at Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering & Science, the university’s early college partner. They graduated with associate’s degrees from WSU at the same time they received their high school diplomas. Buell said that helped them save time and money, giving them a head start on pursuing their career fields.
With a big family and big goals, Buell and her husband, Trevor Kobe, regularly remind their seven children that they don’t have to choose between professional ambitions and a full home life.
“It’s really important to know you can do big things,” she said. “Put your whole heart into it and just keep moving forward.”
Rachel Badali, Public Relations Director
801-626-7948, rachelbadali@weber.edu- Contact:
Rachel Badali, Public Relations Director
801-626-7948, rachelbadali@weber.edu