Woman, 72, Completes Medical School and Begins Family Medicine Residency

Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft completed medical school at age 72 and will begin a family medicine residency the week before she turns 73. She said she first considered medical school during college after completing a BSN program. She later trained and practiced as a neonatal nurse practitioner for 45 years.

Zuidgeest-Craft said she applied to medical school at age 35 but did not attend after life events intervened. She reapplied later but paused again after marriage and infertility treatment. She said she decided to pursue the degree after experiencing limits on independent decision-making as a nurse practitioner.

Zuidgeest-Craft said she expects residency to be demanding and has been sleeping more in preparation. She said her physicians described the plan as unusual but noted some colleagues continue practicing into their late 60s. She said she will train in family medicine after completing medical school in the Caribbean.