Orion Battaglia is a medical student at the University of Kansas—Wichita. He is a 2025 recipient of a STFM Foundation Medical Student Scholarship.

Orion's Family Medicine Story

Hello! My name is Orion Battaglia, and I grew up in the corner of southeast Kansas in a town called Pittsburg. I had the privilege of enjoying the rural high school and undergraduate experience, and my first time away from home was for medical school. I spent two years in Kansas City and two years in Wichita, Kansas.

Growing up, I was fortunate to have fantastic physician role models in my community, especially my mother, who was the pathologist at our local hospital. My interest in medicine was sparked by my love of exercise and fitness, which eventually led me to study biology in college while working as a phlebotomist. Seeing the behind-the-scenes work in the hospital and witnessing the positive impact on patients solidified my decision to pursue medicine. In the future, after completing residency, I plan to practice in my hometown of Pittsburg, Kansas. I’m excited about the opportunity to give back to the community that shaped my life and career.  

Outside of medical school, I proudly embrace my inner nerd. I’m an avid fan of sci-fi and fantasy, particularly Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. I know the movies by heart and even built a gaming PC to immerse myself as much as possible in those universes. My fiancée and I love to work out together, and I’m slowly easing her into the world of The Lord of the Rings films. We’re getting married in April, and I couldn’t be more excited for our future together!  

I’m thrilled about attending the 2025 STFM Conference on Medical Student Education, as it will be my first opportunity to present my own research. This scholarship means a lot to me because STFM provides invaluable opportunities for students to build confidence, take pride in their work, and grow in areas where they may have lacked experience. My main goal at the conference is to fully embrace the experience, have fun, and give my best effort in presenting my research. I also look forward to connecting with other students and physicians to learn more about the field of family medicine and the incredible work being done in it.

As I think about my future in family medicine, the biggest factor in my decision to pursue an academic or non-academic practice will likely be shaped by my experiences during residency. I’ve had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant in college, and I truly cherished that role. Teaching not only helps others gain knowledge, but it also revealed to me the significant difference between simply passing a test and truly understanding the material enough to answer every question from a student. During residency, I’m excited to work with medical students, as I believe it will make me a better physician and help me grow as an educator.

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