Forged by tragedy, driven to heal: CMSRU’s Mitchell McDaniels answers the lifelong call to medicine

Mitchell McDaniels, a soon-to-be graduate of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU), has spent his life answering the call to serve.

From witnessing tragedy at a young age to providing care on the streets of Camden, his path has been shaped by compassion, resilience and an innate desire to heal. This summer, McDaniels will begin his surgical residency at Cooper University Health Care, taking the next step in a lifelong commitment to making a difference—for his patients and his community.

Trauma as turning point

Though he was only three years old on September 11, 2001, the events of that day left an indelible mark. McDaniels’ father, a 22-year FBI veteran and career pilot, spent months surveying Ground Zero by helicopter as a special agent assigned to the case. The stories he shared in the years after sparked a deep awareness in his son of both human vulnerability and the courage to respond in the moments that matter most.

“As I learned about the suffering people endured, something in me shifted,” McDaniels says. “I wanted to be someone who could bring hope to those in need.”

National tragedies that followed, like the Boston Marathon bombing, reinforced that desire as his father continued to respond. Rather than feeling powerless, McDaniels felt a growing pull toward medicine—a field where he could step in during people’s most critical moments.

Understanding compassionate care

McDaniels’ conviction deepened when his grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Watching him move in and out of the ICU exposed McDaniels to the pain and complexity of chronic illness, but also to the healing power of compassion.

He still remembers the moment a physician, before performing surgery, took his grandmother’s hand and prayed with her. That simple, human gesture left a lasting impression.

“I saw in real time how medicine is more than science,” he says. “It’s about the connection you form with that patient as you bring care to them. That’s the kind of doctor I want to be.”

Early steps toward medicine

While many high school students spent their summers relaxing, McDaniels sought ways to learn and serve. At 15, he began volunteering in the emergency department of a hospital in Hammonton, where his family lived. It was there that his fascination with trauma care began to blossom.

In 2015, he joined the inaugural class of CMSRU’s MEDacademy, a summer enrichment program for high school students interested in medicine. That’s where he met trauma surgeon Dr. Nicole Fox, whose poise and passion helped crystallize his path then and throughout his time at CMSRU.

“When she spoke to our group, her humble leadership and compassion inspired me,” McDaniels recalls. “I knew I wanted to be the kind of doctor who could ease suffering when it matters most, a theme that resonated with me as I met her for the first time, and one that was especially apparent to me at bedside years later as a medical student. She is such a phenomenal role model and mentor who has taught me an incredible amount both in medicine and out.”

Later, as a biochemistry major in the College of Science & Mathematics and a student in Rowan University’s John H. Martinson Honors College, McDaniels shadowed emergency care teams at Cooper while enrolling patients in clinical studies as an academic associate. This experience unknowingly laid the groundwork for his future as a CMSRU student, and now, as a surgical resident, says McDaniels, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Rowan in 2020.

‘Those moments can change lives’

At CMSRU, McDaniels found countless opportunities to connect his classroom learning with real-world impact. Through the CMSRU Street Medicine program, he and his classmates provided consistent outreach to Camden’s unsheltered population, bringing supplies and support directly to people where they lived.

“Camden is our classroom; Camden is our home,” McDaniels says, quoting CMSRU’s motto. “It’s not just about practicing medicine. It’s about doing it in a way that honors people’s dignity.”

One patient, who lived beside a highway overpass in Camden, became a familiar face. Their weekly conversations grew into a genuine bond, filled with mutual respect and humor.

“I bet you couldn’t have been a high school quarterback,” the man once joked after McDaniels fumbled a bag of supplies. But when he needed help navigating his complex and tenuous care while admitted to Cooper for months on end, McDaniels was there—a steady presence during a vulnerable time.

“As students, we may have fewer patients, but that gives us the opportunity to spend the time building deeper relationships. It’s the superpower of being a medical student. And it’s part of our service learning curriculum at CMSRU,” McDaniels says.

“Those moments can change lives as we strive to be more culturally competent, understanding, and compassionate physicians while navigating the barriers to health care faced by many in our communities.”

Leadership rooted in service

Beyond Street Medicine, McDaniels co-founded CMSRU’s chapter of the Food Recovery Network, creating a sustainable plan to redistribute surplus food and promote healthy eating. He worked with campus partners, businesses and community organizations to make the program a success.

His commitment has not gone unnoticed. McDaniels was recently inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and received multiple accolades, including the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, the Century Service Award and the Distinction in Service Award. He also earned top honors in his surgery clerkship.

“Mitchell has been an extraordinary student -- deeply compassionate, intellectually curious, and always driven by a strong sense of purpose,” said Dr. Annette C. Reboli, dean of CMSRU.

“Whether leading service initiatives, excelling in the classroom, or offering comfort to patients through our Street Medicine program, Mitchell consistently embodies the values we hold dear at CMSRU. He is a shining example of what it means to be a humanistic physician.”

Looking ahead

As McDaniels prepares to cross the stage at CMSRU’s Commencement on Thursday, May 15, he reflects on how far he’s come since first walking Rowan’s campus eight years ago as an undergraduate student. He’s filled with gratitude for his professors, mentors, classmates, friends and family, all of whom nurtured his passion and purpose.

To his future patients, he offers a quiet promise: “I’ll never take for granted the trust you place in me. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your care. It’s the privilege of a lifetime.”