When a beloved family member died of cancer, Iowa native Lillian Wischmeyer knew what she wanted to do with her life — and that the University of Iowa was the best place to prepare her for it.
Story: Sara Epstein Moninger
Photography: Justin Torner and courtesy of Lillian Wischmeyer
Published: May 21, 2025
With her hands clasping her mouth and her eyes brimming with tears, first-year University of Iowa student Lillian Wischmeyer showed the world what it looks like to have a dream come true.
In a recording of herself opening an email to find out if she was admitted to the university’s radiation therapy program, she turns toward her phone camera and whispers, “I got in!”
Wischmeyer, who posted the video on TikTok in March 2025, began dreaming of becoming a radiation therapist when her cousin and best friend, Elise, was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma in 2020 at age 13. Elise received treatment at UI Health Care — and Wischmeyer often was by her side.
“I saw firsthand the personal connection Elise made with the radiation therapist, and it really stuck with me,” says Wischmeyer, who is from Mount Vernon, Iowa. “I knew I wanted to work in the field of cancer treatment, so I did some exploration with job shadows, but ultimately it came back to what initially drew me in: radiation therapy.”
Wischmeyer’s video also was significant because the two-year Iowa program only accepts up to 10 students a year, usually sophomore applicants.
“Although my circumstances as a freshman were very different than those of typical applicants, I was still very surprised when I got into the program,” she says. “I knew if I got in, I would want a way to remember it and relive the experience. So, I quickly set up my phone when the email came.”
Wischmeyer knew she wanted to attend Iowa, which was close to home and had a top radiation therapy program, so in high school, she worked with a guidance counselor to plan for classes that would satisfy the program’s prerequisites. She also pursued opportunities she thought would further boost her chances of admission: job shadows and, once on campus, employment in guest services at UI Health Care.
Jared Stiles, director of radiation therapy education in the UI Carver College of Medicine, says good grades in prerequisite courses, experience in patient care, and demonstrated knowledge of the profession do indeed strengthen a prospective student’s application to the selective program.
“We look for students who are highly motivated, compassionate, and committed to patient care,” says Stiles, who completed the radiation therapy program at Iowa in 2009. “These qualities are essential for success in a field where both technical skill and human connection are equally important.”
Stiles says that while many similar programs offer certificates or associate degrees, Iowa offers a baccalaureate degree — and it also reports some of the best outcomes in the country for students of radiation therapy, from high first-attempt exam pass rates to a 100% job placement rate.
Growing up, UI student Lillian Wischmeyer and her cousin Elise were best of friends. In 2012, they arrived at a cousin’s wedding in matching outfits and headbands (above, Wischmeyer on the right); in 2021, after spending some time apart, the two were thrilled to reconnect at the graduation party of Elise’s brother (below, Wischmeyer on the left). When Elise died from cancer in 2023, Wischmeyer was inspired to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients by becoming a radiation therapist. In 2025, she was admitted to Iowa’s selective two-year radiation therapy program.
“Being at Iowa has taught me a lot about perseverance in academics. Medical fields are known to be harder to get into, but I constantly told myself I could do it throughout the application process. It’s really rewarding to see that pay off and get into this program.”
Wischmeyer isn’t sure yet what setting she’d like to practice in — a hospital or a clinic — but she does have a professional goal.
“As a provider, I hope to bring comfort and love to each patient. I want them to know that they’re in a safe, comfortable space in a situation that’s usually not very comfortable,” says Wischmeyer, adding that staying close to family in eastern Iowa is a priority. “I want to build strong relationships with patients by making them feel at home and showing them I’m there to help them get better and work toward their future success.”
Right now, Wischmeyer simply is eager to start the program and learn the profession.
“Being at Iowa has taught me a lot about perseverance in academics. Medical fields are known to be harder to get into, but I constantly told myself I could do it throughout the application process,” she says. “It’s really rewarding to see that pay off and get into this program.”
Elise passed away in 2023, but Wischmeyer says she feels her cousin’s presence every day.
“Elise is always with me,” she says. “She is motivation whenever I hit a wall. Whether I’m tired or I don’t want to do something, thinking of her helps me push through. I never directly told her that radiation therapy was my end goal, but I know that she’s with me now and can see that she helped me get here.”
In Lillian Wischmeyer’s words ...
On influential teachers:
“This year I took Human Anatomy with Kelli Taeger and Human Physiology with Clayton Peterson, which are two classes that students usually don’t want to take at the same time because they are very rigorous. But I got really lucky with my professors. Kelli Taeger genuinely wants everyone to do their best, so it was fun to work with her, get feedback, and improve in areas where I was lacking. Clayton Peterson was great with office hours. I was in there bugging him all the time, and he never shooed me away. He was always available to help me understand things from class.”
On living in Mayflower:
“My roommate and I were distraught when we learned we were assigned to Mayflower. But we’ve grown to be best friends with our suite mates, and we all call it home. We look forward to going back there at the end of the day. I think it’s funny how in the beginning it seemed like the worst-case scenario and now I almost don’t want to leave the community that I’ve built there.”
On advice for students:
“Keep working for what you want. Don’t let your doubts of being too young or being behind or not as experienced as others hold you back. If it’s something that you’re set on and you can reach it, then go for it, because you never know what could happen.”
