May 12, 2025
Contact: Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu
When Roee Dar chose to attend medical school at the University of Missouri, staying close to family was a big factor in his decision. What he didn’t expect was how much that sense of family would extend to his life on campus.
That’s largely because of the patient-based learning curriculum used in Mizzou’s School of Medicine. The model emphasizes early clinical experience, collaborative teams and real-world settings to ensure students aren’t just studying medicine, they’re living it.
“It’s a collaborative, engaging approach that fosters a great learning environment — a family environment — and I really love that,” Dar said. “Looking back, I’m very happy I came here and with how things turned out.”
After graduating this weekend, Dar will begin a pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, where he’ll apply the lessons, values and sense of purpose he gained at Mizzou.
From science to service
Dar grew up in Chesterfield, Missouri, fascinated by science and learning how things work. He enrolled at Saint Louis University as a pre-med student, which allowed him to shadow medical professionals while earning a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.
“I liked being around the medical environment and helping people,” he said.
At Mizzou, Dar has enjoyed learning in small, team-based groups alongside classmates and academic facilitators. The collaborative format allows students to examine cases, bounce ideas off one another and develop critical — and clinical — thinking skills.
He hadn’t considered pediatrics until a faculty member pointed out that he had the right personality for the field.
“At the end of my first quarter, the facilitator in my patient-based learning class said she thought I had a lot of qualities that reminded her of pediatricians,” Dar said. “I had no clue, but after that it was on my radar, and I was intentional about exploring it.”
During his third year, Dar spent a seven-week rotation directly working with pediatric patients, confirming that it was the right path for him.
“It was magical for me,” he said. “In many cases, kids are very healthy and resilient and can bounce back. They’re also lively, and that can be rewarding. It’s the kind of energy that will sustain me throughout my career.”
Learning by playing
Outside of clinical work and studies, Dar found ways to build community through two of his lifelong passions — music and chess.
A gifted pianist, he founded the Mizzou Med Musicians, a club that has performed at campus and community events, as well as at local nursing homes. The group has collaborated with the School of Music, performed Christmas carols at the hospital and partnered with music therapists. Dar is also a member of a band, Radial Head, comprised of musicians from his graduating class.
“Music for me is the most important thing I’ve done outside of school,” Dar said. “But it’s also connected to my time in school. That’s the magic of music. I can play piano in a way that relates to my career and helping people.”
Dar also helped start a chess club comprised of medical school students. Members volunteer on Saturdays to teach or play chess with patients in the children’s psychiatric ward and have hosted special events, including an online chess tournament through Mizzou’s Gaming Lounge and Esports Facility.
Looking ahead
At the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Dar will begin a three-year residency that will qualify him to become a general pediatrician. He will also have the option to pursue a fellowship in a specialized area such as pediatric cardiovascular or neonatal care.
While working in a larger metropolitan area will be a change, Dar hopes to carry with him the Midwestern community values he found at Mizzou.
“Mizzou’s curriculum is well designed to help students grow into physicians,” Dar said. “It fosters collaboration, and I can’t emphasize enough how great it’s been working with students who help each other out, learning from incredible faculty, training in nice facilities and serving the amazing people of Missouri.”
