Class of 2026 Valedictorian: JD Mouri's Journey from Business Courses to Medical School

Meet the Class of 2026 Valedictorian, JD Mouri, a real estate major and chemistry minor who starts medical school this July.

JD grew up in San Bernardino with a loving family and parents that taught him the value of working hard and taking opportunities when they present themselves.

Heading to college, he knew he wanted to go to med-school, but upon meeting business students on campus, he decided to take a less traditional path to get there. Seeing first-hand the level of professionalism and relationship building skills the real estate students at Knauss had, JD decided that he wanted to expand his experience and get a degree that helped him improve in those areas as well.

Throughout his college career, faculty continuously found ways to showcase how a business education could be applied to the medical world. When Dr. Richard Clarke, a supply chain professor, asked JD to apply the topics they were learning to staffing and supplying an emergency room, things truly clicked into place that everything he was learning could be applied with a slight perspective shift. 

Having found a way to bridge his passions and courses, he successfully graduated this May and will be starting medical school starting summer of 2026.

For future students he leaves them with one piece of advice "When opportunities come your way, try them. It's the new and difficult things that we do that help us grow and find where we're meant to be."