|
|
 |
|
| |
|
Joshua Schmitt
General College freshman and Lillehei scholar
By Laura Weber
Most freshman don't yet know what a curriculum vitae is, let alone
possess one. The accomplishments of General College freshman Joshua Schmitt
already fill an impressive two-page vita (academic resume).
|
Joshua Schmitt holds a porcine vessel. |
Schmitt enrolled in General College in January 2003 after
five years in the workforce, following home schooling by his parents in
his home state of Illinois. While taking introductory algebra and chemistry,
the aspiring cardiac surgeon has also participated in medical research
studies through the
University's Lillehei Heart Institute, including one this past summer where he
invented a device that University attorneys are reviewing for patent submission.
Schmitt has also been
awarded two research grants, named to the University's Research Subjects Protection
Program Institutional Review Board, and elected to two General College committees.
Like many GC students, the 24-year-old Schmitt is a first-generation college
student. The message from his
parents was to "Go into the construction business like your
father." He had dreams, nevertheless, to be a doctor.
"I didn't think I could
afford college, but I knew I didn't
want to be carpenter," Schmitt said. Instead, a friend introduced him to an opportunity
to establish an independent insurance brokerage in Chicago for a firm based in
Oklahoma. "I acclimated rather quickly to the business of sales
and marketing," Schmitt said modestly. "I brought 80 associates into the business
and landed multiple corporate accounts with Fortune 500 companies within my first
year."
Work brought him to Eau Claire, Wis., where he met Katherine Radmer, who is now
his wife.
She was studying for a master's degree in speech language pathology and encouraged
Schmitt to reach for his dream. When she landed a job as a speech language pathologist
at United Hospital in
St. Paul, Schmitt checked out the University
of Minnesota.
He initially planned to get the ground rules of college down and
take the math and science coursework he lacked through the College of Continuing
Education.
While looking through
the University's undergraduate catalog, however, he came upon the description
for General College, with its emphasis on assisting underprepared, highpotential
students. "This is what I need," Schmitt recalls thinking.
Rudy Hernandez, GC's
admissions officer, recalls that he was immediately impressed
with Schmitt's maturity upon
first meeting him. "I could tell Joshua was ready. He was articulate in presenting
the advantages his home schooling provided. From the get-go he was a good educational
match for GC's mission."
Hernandez's faith in Schmitt was rewarded. Susan Staats,
Schmitt's math professor last semester, recalls him as a "real
learner" who worked hard in his first foray into math, a subject that provoked
some anxiety. Schmitt also sought
counsel from his academic adviser, Susan
Warfield. |
| "In all my experience in and outside of a university setting, I
have never before encountered a student as appreciative of the opportunity
he has
been handed as
Joshua obviously
is," Warfield said. "No one I've worked with has followed up on opportunities
to the extent
he has." Schmitt returns the compliment,
describing Warfield as his "biggest fan and cheerleader. I think of her as an
adviser and a friend. I needed a friend when I arrived; I was so confused and
needed
direction, where to go and how to get there." |
Joshua Schmitt and counselor-advocate Susan Warfield. |
Warfield advised Schmitt to check out opportunities at the Medical School
for summer work involving medical research. His search led him to Dr.
Robert Gallegos,
a surgical resident in the University's Department of Surgery, who is conducting
cardiovascular research in the Lillehei
Heart Institute. "I told [Gallegos] I was willing to do whatever it takes to
get involved, even wash windows, just
so I could hang out and see what he does," Schmitt said. "But he gave me a project
right away."
That project led to Schmitt's developing a device to enable practitioners and
researchers to test the strength and viability of human vessels, as well as artificially
created vessels. (Schmitt is holding a porcine vessel used in the project in
the photo above.) As Schmitt's artificial vessel testing device project began,
he was encouraged to apply for an Undergraduate Research Opportunity grant through
the Lillehei Scholars Program. The patent process through the Patents and Technology
Marketing office came next.
Gallegos explained that the mission of the Lillehei Undergraduate Scholars program
is to cultivate the curiosity of students, as young as high school age, who are
interested
in cardiac surgery. "The competitive days of people flocking into the field of
surgery have passed, partly because of the high costs of medical school and the
years of training
required," he said. "We hope to give students interested in medicine, like Joshua,
the opportunity to see what it's really
like, and the younger, the better.
"Joshua is quite an impressive individual," Gallegos
continued. "He is very capable of following instructions, but more important,
he has demonstrated that he can problemsolve independently. Joshua takes a lot
of pride in what he does, yet he remains extremely courteous and humble. This
is what it takes to be a good physician, and I do believe he is
a rising star."
Schmitt is working on another research project with Gallegos at the same time
he is taking his second semester of GC courses. He characterized Staats and chemistry
professor
Rick Uthe as "wonderful" and also lauds math teaching specialist Janet Stottlemyer,
writing professor Pat Bruch, graduate teaching assistants Syed Dara and Leslie
DuCloux II, and teaching specialist Ezra
Hyland and his African American literature
course.
Schmitt's initial worry that he might not be able to "cut it
at school" contributes to his passion to help others out. "That's what I strive
for in my research and in the committee
work-to be of service. Each gives me an opportunity to influence people positively
in a way that's never been there
before for me," he said.
A particular passion is his work one morning a week with the Indian Health Board
in Minneapolis, where he is volunteering and also shadowing Dr. Pat Rock, an
American Indian physician, supported by a $1,700 grant from the University of
Minnesota-Duluth's American Indian Minority Health Program. (Schmitt is of Native
American heritage.)
In addition to serving on the University's Institutional Review Board (which
reviews research projects involving human subjects to ensure that subjects are
not placed at undue risk and that they give uncoerced, informed consent to their
participation), Schmitt was recently elected to be alternate co-chair of the
General College Student Board and
as student representative to the college's Admissions and Advancement Committee.
He is particularly excited about
the latter because of the "chance to help incoming students and influence perceptions
of home schoolers."
Schmitt has already applied for transfer to the College of Liberal Arts, where
he will most likely major in physiology. He has kind words for his entry point
into the University.
"I strongly believe in GC and the opportunities
it gives.
It's been everything I hoped it would be. It's given me a different perspective
and constantly challenged my outlook
and broadened my perspective."
Susan Staats summed up what she thinks is the message other students should take
from Schmitt's example: "You
don't have to be perfect before you follow your dream. You can go for it right
now. It's wonderful that Joshua has the
courage to do this."
Back to Table of Contents |
|
|
