Lauren Bowser's, DO '26, path to becoming a physician has been defined by purpose, perseverance and a passion for humanistic care—values she first encountered as a teenager through her own experience with an osteopathic physician.
“When I was a teenager, Dr. Maureen Leffler, DO '04, was my physician. It was evident to me from the start that there was something unique about the way she practiced medicine. She treasured the humanity of it and truly cared for me as her patient. She was my first exposure to osteopathic medicine and its values,” she said.
After receiving an undergraduate degree from Franklin & Marshall College, Bowser worked at the Clinic for Special Children in Lancaster County, where she cared for patients with rare genetic disorders, many from Amish and Mennonite communities. It was there she said, that she experienced medicine in its most personal form, free from many systemic constraints.
After being initially waitlisted, she enrolled in the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program at PCOM and later earned acceptance into the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program in 2021. Just weeks into her first year, Bowser married her husband, Edgar, balancing the demands of medical school with major life milestones.
During her second year, Bowser secured a highly sought-after clinical rotation placement through the Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research (DIMER), aligning with her long-term goal of returning to Delaware and practicing medicine in her home community. Soon after securing this placement, she and her husband shared the joyful news that they were expecting their first child, a daughter named Maren.
What followed was a period of profound personal challenge. While preparing for board examinations and relocating for clinical rotations, Bowser and her husband experienced the devastating loss of their daughter who was unexpectedly stillborn at term.
It was due to the unwavering support of PCOM faculty and mentors—particularly Dr. Michael Becker and Dr. Margaret Wilkins—Bowser said she was able to find a path forward.
“When I applied to PCOM, I wrote about my belief that our bodies are our vessels,” she said. “They carry our entire existence and dictate what is possible for us to achieve in the world. I didn't know mine would grow a brand new life and lose it all while I was here, but I do know that I am so grateful for my PCOM education and to have learned how to care for the body, mind and spirit of others in a way that has equipped me with the tools to care for my own and seek the support of others when I need help.”
Bowser drew on these life experiences during her residency interviews, speaking openly about her grief and the perspective it has given her as a future physician. After graduation, she will begin her family medicine residency at Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital, with the goal of returning again to her roots in Delaware and practicing outpatient primary care.
Now a first-time homeowner and expecting her “rainbow baby,” Bowser looks ahead with hope. She offers this advice to future physicians: “Your path may not be linear and that’s okay. It's possible (and essential) to use experiences of adversity to fuel your passions. In my experience, this has led to greater purpose and fulfillment in my journey.”
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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Gabrielle DePietro
Associate Director, News and Media Relations
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: gabrielde2@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6304
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