Twin sisters and aspiring doctors complete degrees as built-in support system

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In a time when most students set off for college hoping to find themselves, twin sisters Abigail “Abby” and Olivia Kayani walked onto campus already knowing one thing for certain: they each had a built-in partner.

The Akron, Ohio, natives said they chose Penn State not for what it promised but for how it made them feel. Psychology majors with neuroscience options, biology minors and matching summa cum laude honors, they weren’t just classmates, but collaborators, co-leaders and each other’s constant through four of the most transformative years of their lives.

The aspiring doctors’ story started, they said, like many Penn State stories do, with a campus visit. Except it was mid-pandemic, and there were no tours or cheerful student guides.

Still, the place already felt like home.

“It was our last visit,” Abby said. “And I just knew.”

Olivia felt it, too, she said.

“I had a feeling from the start that this was where I belonged. But walking the campus made it click,” she said.

They enrolled under the Division of Undergraduate Studies, giving themselves room to explore. In little time, they said, each decided on psychology as their major.

“We knew we wanted to pursue medicine, but we didn’t want to take the most traditional path,” Olivia said. “Choosing psychology through the College of the Liberal Arts gave us a broader understanding of people, behavior and communication — skills that are just as essential to being a good doctor as the science itself.”

Along the way, Abby and Olivia said they forged an even closer bond through lab goggles, late-night study marathons, color-coded spreadsheets and unwavering support. No matter how hard the exam or how long the THON shift, they always had each other’s backs.

They joined Omega Phi Alpha, a national service sorority, where both took on leadership roles including membership director, philanthropy chair, treasurer and service director. Through the group, they helped local Boy Scouts earn emergency preparedness badges, led service events across State College and supported the sorority’s three THON families.

THON wasn’t just a college activity; it became part of their identity. They joined as first-year students, each taking on committee work, dancer relations, rules and regulations, and hospitality. Gradually, they grew into leadership roles. Through THON, they learned what resilience looked like in the eyes of children and what it meant to be part of something bigger than themselves, they said.

Academically, the twins balanced rigor with purpose: For four semesters, both served as learning assistants in BIOL 161/163: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II. And the course BIOL 476: Human Cadaver Anatomy pushed them further toward medicine, deepening their curiosity and confirming their passion for patient care, they said. Both also worked with doctoral students on research projects.

During a Maymester in London, they explored human development through the lens of the British monarchy. For three weeks, they walked ancient streets, stood beneath Tower Bridge and applied developmental theory to real-world narratives. To them, it felt like walking through a living textbook, one with cobblestones and cathedrals, they said.

Post-graduation, the twins are back in Ohio temporarily. Both are participating in the MOST Fellowship Program at the Cleveland Clinic, shadowing physicians, working as medical scribes and preparing for the MCATs that will take them to medical school.

They said they share a future vision but bring different energies to the table. Abby lights up when talking about human anatomy and the art of being present with patients. Olivia reflects on the importance of communication and empathy and how psychology gave her the tools to connect, listen and lead.

They still study together, they said. Still trade notes. Still push each other with equal parts motivation and compassion.

“We always had someone to lean on,” Olivia said. “When one of us stumbled, the other was there. We gave each other grace and grit.”

“And we kept each other accountable,” Abby added. “It wasn’t about competition. It was about rising together.”