Jen Reinmuth-Birch, 51, took the plunge after her new husband convinced her to go back to school to kick start her career, and after witnessing the incredibly work of medical staff

Image: Courtesy of Jen Reinmuth-Birch SWNS)

A woman has switched retirement for medical school in order to train to practice as a doctor at the age of 50 - proving that it's never too late to chase your dreams.

51-year-old Jen Reinmuth-Birch was encouraged to return to school by her new husband, to reinvent her career.

She was inspired after witnessing the incredible work of medical professionals who work with children with special needs, which chimed with her own experience of parenting a boy with autism.

It took the mum-of-two four years to build work experience and get her science qualifications before she was accepted into her dream medical school, Pacific North West University of Health Sciences in January 2021.

She is now in her second year, and is inspiring others to do exactly what they want.

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Hailing from Yakima, Washington, student Jen said: "I just suddenly found my passion for medicine in my late 40s but I never thought it was possible.

"I was a single mum and working two jobs to keep us afloat.

"Then I met my now-husband who gave me the push to go and do it.

"Now after four years of hard work I'm on the path to become a doctor and I'm loving every second.

"It's hard work but I've never been happier."

Jen has twin boys - Jack and Michael - who are aged 20, and she has always been a stay-at-home mum.

But when her marriage broke down in 2008, she was forced to go it alone.

She said: "I became a busy city mum juggling two jobs.

"My boys came first."

But Jen did find the time to go back and do a masters in special needs education and found a love for medicine when shadowing doctors.

"I found it so interesting, but I didn't think I would ever have the option to do that," she said.

But in 2012 she met Norm Birch, 66, a distribution manager, after being introduced through a friend.

When he heard about her dream to be a doctor, he told her he wanted to help her make it a reality.

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"I told him it wasn't possible because I had the boys," Jen said.

"But he told me he would help out with them and any excuse I came up with he had an answer.

"So I re-enrolled at school."

Jen went back to school in September 2012 and took four years getting her science qualifications and work shadowing before applying for her medical degree.

"When I found out I got accepted into my dream medical school my legs collapsed," Jen said.

"I was so shocked. It's life-changing."

Jen started at the Pacific North West University of Health Sciences in August 2021 and gets up at 4am each day to study before her classes start at 8am.

She finishes at 5pm and uses the evening to have quality time with her family.

"I thought it would feel strange starting school at 50 when all the other students are young enough to be my children," Jen said.

"But everyone just sees me as Jen. I'm no different. I'm one of the kids."

Jen has dealt with some nasty comments such as - 'good luck grandma' and 'you'll be dead before you graduate' from people online- but she has mostly had positive feedback from others online.

"People tell me I've inspired them to go back to school which is amazing," Jen said.

"I get tears in my eyes reading some of the messages I get."

Jen is on a four-year programme consisting of two years of studying and two years of placements in hospitals before she will then start her residency.

"I'm loving it," she said.

"I am so thankful to Norm for pushing me to do this. He's my biggest cheerleader."

Read more:
Woman swaps retirement for medical school proving it's never too late to chase your dreams - The Mirror