For more information contact: Boonshoft
School of Medicine, Judi Engle,
Office of Public Relations, (937) 775-2951
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2002
Beyond Graduation
DAYTON, OHIO--Harry VanderWal and his wife Echo are
partners: in study, in medicine, in faith, in life, and especially in
parenting. When Harry graduates on June 7, from Wright State University
School of Medicine, along with 86 fellow medical students, the VanderWals
will be one step closer to fulfilling their life goals.
Becoming part-time medical missionaries has been one objective set by
the VanderWal’s since Harry’s decision during his sophomore
year of college to go into medicine instead of math education. For Echo
medical missions is a goal she has held since she was 8 years old. The
VanderWal’s plan to establish a medical mission in Africa, spending
two months each year there, and to develop rotations with other physicians
and staff personnel interested in medical missions. For now, they assist
in shipping desperately needed medical supplies to areas in Africa.
Harry also sees the need for physicians and medical care in some of
the remote rural areas here in the United States. So after Harry’s
residency, the VanderWal’s plan to setup practice in a rural area.
When students enter college, one piece of advice given out by mentors
usually includes: “Choose your friends wisely!” When Harry
and Echo first became study partners, then friends, and then life partners,
they chose wisely.
Harry and Echo both have B.A.’s in biology from Cedarville College
where they graduated Suma Cum Laude, and were named to the president’s
and dean’s lists. After graduation Harry came to Wright State to
earn his M.D. and Echo received her degree as a Physician’s Assistant
from Kettering College of Medical Arts.
Midpoint in Harry’s four-year M.D. program, triplets Luke, Jake,
and Zeb were born. According to Harry and Echo, “Babies are smile
experts! They seem to smile from the top of their heads to the tips of
their toes!”
The next step for the VanderWals is Harry’s residency in the medicine/pediatrics
residency training program at Wright State. The combined medicine-pediatrics
program offers graduates the opportunity to become board certified in
both internal medicine and pediatrics in four years.
“I could not have made it without Echo’s support, the support
of my friends, family, and my faith,” states Harry. “The
students, faculty, clinical faculty, and staff here at Wright State have
made my journey very positive!”
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