A Milken Connection That Traveled Across the Country

When Josh Simmons ’12 and Emma Bloom ’14 met in medical school in New York City, neither of them expected that a shared Milken connection would be the spark that brought them together.

Although Emma and Josh attended Milken just two years apart, they never actually knew one another while they were students. It took a mutual medical school classmate—another Los Angeles native—to recognize that they both had Milken roots. After pointing out the connection, he planted a seed that quickly grew into something much more.

A week later, Emma decided to take matters into her own hands. She looked Josh up on Facebook, spotted him at a bar, walked right up to him, and delivered what has since become a legendary opening line:

“Are you Josh Simmons?”

The rest, as they say, is history.

For both of them, their shared Milken background immediately created a sense of familiarity and connection. Josh already knew Emma’s father, Steve Bloom, who continues to teach at Milken, and Josh’s brothers had been students in his classes. Even though they met thousands of miles from campus, Milken became a meaningful part of their story from the very beginning.

Today, Josh and Emma reflect on how their relationship has deepened their appreciation for the Milken community. Although they attended Milken at different times and built their own circles and experiences, they have continually discovered just how interconnected those experiences were.

Since getting together, they have uncovered countless overlapping friendships, shared memories, and unexpected connections. It has become clear that even though they never crossed paths as students, their lives were intertwined in surprising ways long before they met.

“It’s almost like we lived parallel lives until we met,” Emma shared.

From mutual friends and classmates to shared mentors and community connections, their story has become a testament to the lasting impact of the Milken network. Years after graduation—and thousands of miles from Los Angeles—they continue to find new ways that their Milken experiences connect them.

One of Josh’s favorite examples came when he attended Emma’s 10-year reunion and recognized many of the alumni there from his own college experience and broader Milken connections. Their story is a reminder that Milken relationships often extend far beyond graduation, creating bonds that endure across years, cities, and life stages.

After completing medical school in New York, Josh and Emma successfully “couples matched” and moved to Seattle, where they are both completing their residency training at the University of Washington. Josh is specializing in Emergency Medicine, while Emma is pursuing Neurology.

Along the way, they have also built a family of their own. During medical school, they adopted Moose, a German Shepherd-Labrador-Australian Shepherd mix who quickly became an important part of their lives. Moose has been with them through the challenges and triumphs of medical school, residency applications, and cross-country moves. Then, during their very first month of residency, they welcomed a second puppy, Addie, to the family.

As for wedding planning, the newly engaged couple is intentionally taking things one step at a time.

“We’re trying to stay in engagement bliss for now,” they shared. “Residency keeps us incredibly busy, so we’re giving ourselves some time before diving into wedding planning and simply enjoying this chapter together.”

Their story is a reminder that no matter how far Milken alumni travel—from Los Angeles to New York to Seattle—the connections formed through our community continue to stand the test of time and distance.