Improve the lives of patients and put their health first. Copper Inabangan, MS can’t remember a time when that wasn’t a life goal.
Born and raised in Philippines, Copper joined the U.S. Air Force as an aerospace medical technician while working as a civilian nurse in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While earning a spot in medical school was his ultimate goal, Copper said juggling the military, working and going back to school was a challenge.
“I decided to start with community college, but I wasn’t getting the support I needed,” he said. “At the time, I was still struggling with English. When I found that I could get my pre-reqs for med school online, Logan was one of the first schools that popped up for Bachelor of Science in Human Biology.”
Copper said Logan’s academic advisor (now instructional designer at Logan) Casey Woodson made the process seamless, offering guidance and support wherever needed. “I thrive in traditional settings when it comes to learning, but I found that with the online course, I discovered how to efficiently manage my time and be more responsible. I became an independent learner which is a valuable skill to have in any profession.”
After graduating from Logan in April 2019, Copper earned his Master’s in Biomedical Sciences at Rocky Vista University in Parker, Colorado, in 2020, and is now a first-year medical student in Rocky Vista’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. His goal is to serve the underserved community. “Having grown up in a developing country, not everyone is given an opportunity like this,” he said. “Every day, I am thankful.”
Copper looks forward to the interprofessional relationships between MDs, chiropractors and health care professionals—all working toward the common goal of improving lives of patients.
While it hasn’t always been an easy road, Copper said the support he has received from friends, family and people like Casey, has been his rock. “Days get tough with conflicts, schedules and work, but it’s good to have people who provide support when you need it,” he said. “I feel like we all have a mindset of wanting to get somewhere as fast as we can. My advice to others is to make sure you are doing something for you—something fun—beside school and work. Mental health is valuable.”