29-04-2025
Cross-country move pays off for future Joplin doctor
JOPLIN, Mo. — A student from Utah is ready to call Joplin home after a cross-country move for medical school.
'I was studying at Dixie State University, now known as Utah Tech, and I was majoring in Spanish. Spanish was my major, and I had a minor in chemistry,' said Chance Aplanalp, KCU student.
Early building blocks for Chance Aplanalp, the start on the road to becoming a doctor several states away.
'My wife was about 34 weeks pregnant with our first son, so we had to basically pack our stuff up and make about a 19-hour drive out here to Joplin from St George, Utah. It was definitely a difficult time, but definitely paid off,' said Aplanalp.
With a grueling study schedule and demanding tests.
But, there have also been some surprising perks as a doctor in training.
'My son was born August 10, my first year. So it was about one week after my first medical school exam. And fortunately, my wife's doctor let me deliver. So I was able to deliver my first my first son, right after one of my first medical school exams, which was one of the biggest blessings of my life,' said Aplanalp.
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A blessing that would be repeated as he also got to deliver his second son two years later.
Fast forward to 2025, and Chance is now just days away from graduating from KCU Joplin.
He'll focus on ear, nose, and throat medicine.
'I was able to do all sorts of audition rotations all the way up from Pennsylvania to Michigan and basically everywhere in between. But I kept coming back to this program,' said Aplanalp.
Which Chance has now committed to – a residency at Freeman Health System.
'One of the reasons why is because everywhere I went, Dr McIntyre, both Larry and Kent McIntyre, their names continually got brought up, and their reputation was very, very strong. And I knew, if that was the case, you know, that was somewhere where I would want to be,' said Aplanalp.
A new chapter in his life – with new challenges in a good place to call home.
'My wife and I had established really good friendships here. Really enjoyed being in Joplin. We thought it would be a perfect fit to stay in Joplin,' said Aplanalp.
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