president’s message

Down the road, you’ll be somewhere you’d never guess today.

That’s truer now than ever. People change jobs seven to 10 times in a lifetime. If you’re reading Pacesetter, there’s a good chance, I suppose, that you’ll stay in health care. But even if you do, your future will still surprise you.

The world, or its “deep hunger,” may shift. You may have to sharpen or change your skills. Or you may want a new start. Your “deep gladness” may require (as one of my friends likes to say) that you “re-pot” yourself.

I just heard a Christian dramatist pray after his performance of several Gospel parables: “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” His wish is somewhat widely repeated, actually, and it crystallizes a contemporary hymn that seems to enthrall organists and guitarists alike, even banjo pickers. As new hymns go — and they don’t go the way Lady Gaga’s songs do — it’s a megahit.

Bryan Jeffery Leech’s poem begins, “Let your heart be broken for a world in need; / Feed the mouths that hunger, / Soothe the wounds that bleed.” Near the end comes this reminder: “Add to your believing deeds that prove it true.” Then the hymn soars toward its ending: “Let your heart be tender and your vision clear / See mankind as God sees, serve Him far and near.”

One great thing about Kettering College is a mission that seems well-aligned with these concerns. We aspire to “make service a life calling.” We say health is “harmony with God in body, mind, and spirit.”

But nothing about this is automatic. I heard once about a rabbi who was imprisoned in St. Petersburg. A guard saw him in meditation, stopped, and threw down a hard question. According to the Bible, God said to Adam, “Where are you?” Why, the guard wondered, would an all-knowing God have to ask?

According to the story, the rabbi said God wasn’t looking for information. God was asking Adam to consider where he was on his own life journey. How far had he come? Was his life in sync with his stated beliefs and goals? Did these beliefs and goals need attention?

This issue of Pacesetter looks at career change — and what is career change but a stage of life’s journey?

Two things come to mind as I think about this. One is how I am doing on my own life journey, and how all of us associated with Kettering College are doing on ours. Another is that if with every surprise the future serves up, we still aspire to meet human need — to serve the hungering vulnerable around us — we can actually find the “deep gladness” we yearn for.

That’s part, I think, of the Gospel message. It underlies everything we stand for at Kettering College.

Finding Gladness

Dr. Charles Scriven, Ph.D., President

“The place God calls you to be is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” — Frederick Buechner

features2

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IBC

Pacesetter is published twice yearly by the public relations office at Kettering College for the alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students of the school.

PacesetterPublic Relations OfficeKettering College · 3737 Southern Blvd. · Kettering, OH 45429

www.kc.edu · pacesetter@kc.edu

EDITOR: Mindy Claggett ASSISTANT EDITOR: Amy Moretta CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Kathryn Keyes, Charles Scriven, Julie Thompson, David VanDenburghPHOTOS: Mindy Claggett, Colin Gatland, Rachel Moutoux, Joan Ulloth, Julie Walling, Laura Willis and Kettering College archives. Baseball game photos in Campus Notes courtesy of Dayton Dragons. Photos on pages 6-8 provided by Eric Bailey, Cheryl Gudlewski and Laurie Miller. Class Notes photos on pages 10 -11 provided by alumni and families. Photo of Francis family on page 12 provided by Paul Francis. Military image on page 13 provided by Kristy Hoch. All images on pages 17-19 provided by VanDenburgh family.PRINTING: Mound Printing Co. Inc., Dayton, Ohio

Kettering College, born out of Adventist faith, is a fully accredited college that offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in health science education. Upholding Christ, the College educates students to make service a life calling and to view health as harmony with God in body, mind, and spirit. A division of Kettering Medical Center, Kettering College is located on the KMC campus in a suburb of Dayton, Ohio.

departmentsCampus NotesClass NotesAlumni SpotlightPartnershipsBehind the ScenesCampus Candids

A Turn for the Better

Competitive Edge

Perspectives: A Long Night’s Journey Into Day

the magazine of Kettering College

ON THE COVERThe pervading theme in this issue is Kettering College students and alumni who switched from other careers to pursue a calling to health care. Professor of religion David VanDenburgh (pictured) had a very different experience, which you can read about on page 17.

Photo taken by David VanDenburgh, Jr.

Printer dropin reversed out logo

innovation. superior graduates. passion for service and health.

SUMMER2012

1pacesetter · summer 2012

> In the economic downturn, Kettering College has been, for many, a turn for the better

> New career services offering already paying off for some students and alumni

> Religion professor David VanDenburgh thought he knew everything ... until God showed him that he didn’t

17

13 6

campus notes

2 pacesetter · summer 2012 k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

Three new faculty and staff members — Laura Edwards, George Shterev and Jeanie Stivers — joined the Kettering College family during winter semester.

Laura Edwards came to campus in 2010 as a writing tutor and adjunct faculty member; when she joined the Academic Support Center this year, she took on duties including test proctoring, scheduling and additional tutoring assignments. She also teaches the online medical terminology course and assists Amy Ortiz-Moretta in the new Career Services resume writing and interviewing workshops. Previously, Edwards was an adjunct English professor at the University of Dayton and Sinclair Community College for three years; at UD, she taught in the Intensive English Program for international students at UD. While working on her master’s degree at Dayton, she was a writer in the school’s public relations office and was an adjunct faculty member at Cedarville University. She also taught English at Kettering Fairmont High School in 1996-97. Edwards has a bachelor’s degree in English education from Cedarville and a master’s in English from the University of Dayton. “I am very passionate about teaching — that great ‘aha’ moment in students’ eyes and when they take ownership and pride in their writing,” Edwards said. She and her husband of 17 years, Mike, have two sons, Jay, 15, and Brad, 13.

George Shterev joined the information technology staff as an instructional technologist, guiding the college through its transition to a new online learning management system this fall. Before coming to Kettering, Shterev spent five years as an IT support specialist at Atlantic Union College in Lancaster, Mass. He said he became fascinated with computers and binary logic in an introductory informatics course in high school. “Since then, there were many occasions I believe God led me to and continued to spark my interest in software development and information technology,” Shterev said. “It is a fascinating field and makes a huge difference in our daily life. The possibilities this field holds are limitless. Becoming bored at work is simply impossible, and that’s exactly what I want to do in my life — have my hobby for work and my work for a hobby.” Shterev has a bachelor’s in computer science from Atlantic Union College and a master’s in software engineering from Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. He and his wife, Dennitza, have two children, Evelyn, 7, and Alexander, 5.

Jean Stivers, associate professor of nursing, came to Kettering College from San Antonio, where she was a staff educator for Metropolitan Methodist Hospital and a nursing educator at the University of Texas. Prior to that, she was a faculty member and course coordinator at Galen College of Nursing, also in San Antonio. In more than 30 years as a nurse, Stivers worked in various staff and leadership roles, most often in obstetrics and surgery. Stivers said she heard about Kettering College from her daughter, who did a year’s internship at Kettering Medical Center as part of her anesthesia residency through Loma Linda University. Stivers was impressed with the family-like atmosphere and the way the College espoused Christian service and caring. Stivers has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich., and a master’s in nursing leadership from Regis University in Denver. In 2008, she received the Excellence in Nursing award from Regis. In her free time, Stivers enjoys being with family and friends, especially her grandson, Liam.

Laura EdwardsAcademic Support Center

George ShterevInstructional technologist, IT

Jean StiversAssociate professor of nursing

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NEW FACES:)

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campus notes campus notes

3pacesetter · summer 2012k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

Sponsored by Kettering College and the Clinton Trott Society, the fourth annual Spring into Health 5K on April 15 attracted 257 participants — more than double the previous year’s record total of 105. Philip Minutolo, a second-year sonography student, was the top finisher on a challenging course with a time of 20:36.8. The event raised $5,500 for the Good Neighbor House. Kettering College students and personnel who completed the 5K were eligible for drawings for two new iPad 3s; they went to student Brittani Williamson and respiratory care department chair Nancy Colletti. See photos at www.KC.edu/5K. The Clinton Trott Society is Kettering College’s Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Good Neighbor House, founded by eight Dayton-area Adventist churches in 1994, provides food pantry services, health promotion, clothing and household items to Dayton-area individuals and families in need. The 2013 Spring into Health 5K is tentatively planned for Sunday, April 14; our goal is to double our participant total again. When it becomes available, more information will be posted on the KC website.

The Division of Nursing’s annual Easter basket project in April provided 262 baskets to people at Artemis House, House of Bread, YWCA, Daybreak, St. Vincent’s and Kettering Behavioral Medicine Center. The effort also resulted in 55 bags of personal supplies for women and 30 bags for men at Gateway. Students from Nursing 221/222 helped to assemble the bags and baskets and load the truck for delivery. Volunteer support also came from faculty and staff and their families, alumni, Kettering Seventh-day Adventist Church, Kettering Recreation Complex, homeschool groups and other colleges.

NURSING STUDENTS DELIVER EASTER BASKETS, PERSONAL SUPPLIES

On Saturday, April 28, Kettering College conferred degrees and certificates on 262 students at its 44th annual commencement ceremonies. The event, held at the Dayton Convention Center, featured keynote speaker Richard Hart, president of Loma Linda University in California. Among the evening’s highlights were the presentations of the George B. Nelson Award to Christopher Atkins (human biology) and the Margaret L. Rodenburg Graduate Scholar Award to Brian Mabry (physician assistant). Named after the founding president of Kettering Medical Center, the Nelson Award is given to the associate or bachelor’s graduate who most exemplifies the spirit and practice of the College’s mission. The Rodenburg Award recognizes a master’s-level graduate for achieving excellence in scholar-ship and professional growth, for providing compassionate Christian service, for demonstrating leadership and an interest in his or her profession that exceeds customary

academic requirements, and for commitment to quality and lifelong learning. The College president granted 163 Associate of Science degrees in nursing (115), diagnostic medical sonography (18), radiologic technology (16), respiratory care (13) and nuclear medicine (1). Five earned certificates of completion in computed tomography; two earned certificates in magnetic resonance imaging. The College awarded 55 bachelor’s degrees, including 23 Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. Twelve Bachelor of Science in Health Professions degrees were awarded in the following specialties: health care professional studies (7), advanced imaging (3) and respiratory care (1). Twenty-one Bachelor of Science degrees in human biology and four in diagnostic medical sonography degrees were presented as well. Thirty-seven graduate students earned Master of Physician Assistant Studies degrees.

KETTERING COLLEGE GRADUATES 44th CLASS

ANNUAL 5K EVENT RAISES FUNDS FOR GOOD NEIGHBOR HOUSE

West Carrollton-based Biehn Co. brought a group to run the Spring into Health 5K in April.

Congratulations, graduates!

Following a team visit to campus last fall, the Adventist Accreditation Association (AAA) extended Kettering College’s accreditation the maximum five years. This organization focuses on the college’s fidelity to principles of Seventh-day Adventist higher education.

Faculty and staff participated in an Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) Summit on May 15 to share perspectives on peer collaboration. As part of our ongoing AQIP effort, the College identifies opportunities for improvement and undertakes projects to increase quality. Completed projects make up a record of the institution’s quality improvement activities over time.

The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) sent notice that at its meeting in March, the Board of Commis-sioners accepted the follow-up report of the College’s associate degree program and affirmed accreditation through spring 2017.

The University of Dayton announced in June that it had tapped Kettering College’s Sue Wulff to become the founding director of its new physician assistant department. Wulff is a graduate of the Kettering College PA program and has been a faculty member for the past 15 years. She was named chair of Kettering’s PA department in 2002 and helped launch the College’s first on-campus master’s degree program. Fran Angerer, another KC alumna and a PA faculty member since 2006, was named interim director of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. After earning her associate degree from Kettering in 1993, Angerer earned a bachelor’s in medical technology from the University of Dayton and then a master’s in public health from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She is currently working toward a doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Dayton. “We are fortunate to have someone within the ranks who can provide stability to the program as well as carry on the departmental tradition of creative, committed leadership,” said William Nelson, dean for academic affairs.

Accrediting body seeking comments on KCKettering College is seeking comments from the public about the College in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. Sept. 19 -21, the College will host a team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Kettering College has been fully accredited by the Commission since 1974. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s criteria for accreditation. The public is invited to submit comments through Aug. 20 to: Public Comment on Kettering College, Higher Learning Commission, 230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1411. The public may also submit comments on the Commission’s website at www.ncahlc.org. Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing.

campus notes

4 pacesetter · summer 2012 k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

ACCREDITATION UPDATES

>

>

>

FRAN ANGERER

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT NAMES INTERIM DIRECTOR

Members of the Kettering College Class of 2012 took part in the annual New Alumni Night at the Dayton Dragons game on May 2. Graduates and their families played Baseball Bingo, and the first 100 winners received $5 in Baseball Bucks to use anywhere in the stadium. Several alumni showed off their teamwork skills by participating in the Hula-Hoop Hustle. Nelson Award winner and human biology graduate Chris Atkins met Dayton Dragons players and threw out the first pitch.

The diagnostic medical sonography junior and senior classes volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House on April 13, weeding gardens, mulching, sweeping, trimming bushes and cleaning benches. In an effort to assist a charity that supports our clinical sites, the sonography students have helped clean the RMH grounds annually for several years. Under the leadership of assistant professor Rachel Moutoux, the group also collected 40 pounds of pull tabs during the 2011-12 school year to support the Ronald McDonald House. Pull-tab collections in the area raise more than $14,000 a year for the charity, reports Ronald McDonald House. The sonography department plans to collect tabs again in 2012-13.

campus notes campus notes

5pacesetter · summer 2012k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

Nelson Award winner Chris Atkins ’12 with Dayton Dragons pitcher Tanner Robles

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SONOGRAPHY STUDENTS, FACULTY

SUPPORT TO RONALD MCDONALD

HOUSE

Sonography students Jeri Strong, left, and Chelsea Flohre with the 40 pounds of pull tabs their department collected for the Ronald McDonald House.

ENJOYS ANNUAL NEW ALUMNI NIGHT AT DAYTON DRAGONS

Class of 2012

Look at those hula-hoop skills!

6 pacesetter · summer 2012 k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

a forIn the economic downturn,Kettering College has been, for many …

Instead, the

18-year-old decided

to take a job as a tech-

nician with a local

veterinarian and learn

on the job. It seemed

like the best choice,

as her experience even-

tually landed her at an

animal hospital where

she was handling

multiple crises and

complicated cases.

The environment

fueled her.“I enjoyed emergency medicine because it

was very fast-paced, and I found that I could excel in it,”

Gudlewski said. “I could communicate with owners

really well, and I was always able to stay calm.”

Gudlewski found great potential for her future

at the multi-specialty site, and the hospital needed her

as the demand for its services continued to grow. But

when the 2008 financial crisis hit, many pets stopped

coming in; some owners even opted to euthanize their

animals rather than paying hundreds or thousands of

dollars for diagnostic testing.

Almost overnight, Gudlewski’s hectic work weeks

became quiet. Gudlewski, nearing 30, reevaluated her

career. She decided she had the power to take control

even if it meant leaving the work force and entering a

classroom for the first time in a decade.

The decision was fairly easy, she said. She would

take her love for animal emergency medicine and learn

how to put it into practice with humans. She said she

fell in love with Kettering College’s small campus and

high-quality instruction, so she enrolled in Kettering’s

nursing program.

Holding out hope

Gudlewski is one of many who have sought new careers

in wake of the Great Recession. For some, like Gudlewski,

the decision was strategic; for others, it was out of necessity.

The impact of widespread job loss in the corporate,

manufacturing, education, public and nonprofit sectors

was great — but many found hope in health care, which

remains an area of growth as the population ages and as

medicine makes it possible for people to live with diseases

longer. Health care careers held options for those willing

to take the plunge back into education.

Many made their way to Kettering College.

Enrollment has increased every year at Kettering since

2007, and the downturn in the economy has contributed

to that growth: 938 students enrolled at Kettering in the

fall of 2011 — up 14 percent from 823 in the fall of 2008,

said Victor Brown, dean for enrollment management and

student life.

The college traditionally held one open house a

week for students who wanted to stop by and see what it

has to offer. Brown’s staff added a second day when the

numbers of prospective students climbed. The second day

helped accommodate growing numbers, but also enabled

Kettering staff to best meet the needs of those coming

through the door.

Health care offers a strong option, but not all

who look at it will follow through and apply. Brown

participated in many career opportunity days at

manufacturing plants about to shut down, and many

of those he spoke to had no idea where to turn after

15 to 25 years on the assembly line.

“We saw so many people come through our

college who wanted to consider it but realized it was

a big mountain to climb,” Brown said. “The decision to

come back to school is a hard one. I often tell prospective

students that people weren’t meant to be a spouse, parent,

employee and a student all at once. It’s enough juggling

work, family and a private life. Throw in being a full-time

student to those who aren’t used to being a full-time

student, and it is really hard.”

Cheryl Gudlewski had her whole life ahead of her when she graduated high school, and she wasn’t willing to give up one minute of it to sit in a college classroom.

I enjoyed emergency medicine because it was very fast-paced, and I found that I could excel in it.

7pacesetter · summer 2012k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

the betterby julie thompson

From cars to catheters

In 2005, she looked into health care, but most of the courses

were held during work hours.

“I finally decided that I had a good job, so I would hang

with it, and if something would happen, it would be an option

in the back of my mind,” Miller said.

She changed course in 2008 when she was laid off with

severance pay. At age 42, Miller was single, but her ties to

Dayton ran too deep to leave. She was the sole caregiver of

her elderly parents, and this was her home. She took a year

to think about her options and talk to family members in

different areas of health care.

She settled on respiratory therapy for reasons more personal

than professional. Her family had been deeply impacted by

lung diseases. Her grandfather, who had worked in coal mines,

developed black lung disease, and her aunt struggled with

emphysema. She also had watched another aunt and uncle

die of lung cancer. Her decision to pursue the degree was easy;

the thought of making it through school wasn’t.

Miller had received her bachelor’s in management

and had taken courses through her former employer. Still,

textbooks, tests and studying daunted her.

“I was scared to death,” Miller said. “I had been out of

school for 10 years. I was so programmed on my old job, I

could do it with my eyes closed.” School was going to be less

predictable. But Miller overcame her fears with hard work and

extra help from Kettering College’s tutoring program. She is

now entering her practicum with hopes of graduating soon.

“Do I recommend it for everyone? No,” she said. “Two

and half years of my life have been dedicated to my education.

I have had no social life, and my family has been put on the

back burner.”

Like most non-traditional students, Miller had to blend

work with school. She was often working when she wasn’t in

classes, which often ran 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.“I don’t have children

or have dependents,” she said. “It’s just me, so I could go at it

100 percent.”

Laurie Miller felt the recession coming. She had spent nearly 20 years working her way up at an automotive giant, but she wasn’t confident about the industry’s future.

I was scared to death. I had been out of school for 10 years. I was so programmed on my old job, I could do it with my eyes closed.

L AURIE

8 pacesetter · summer 2012 k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

Constructing a better life

He applied to medical schools as soon as he could, but he knew he would have to wait several months before classes actually began. So as a 23-year-old husband at the time, he took advantage of a job with a booming homebuilding business, and before he knew it, he made his way to the top. The idea of medical school started to fade as Bailey — who earned an engineering degree in the military — became increasingly tied to the business. He enjoyed the work and loved the lifestyle it provided for his growing family. In 1999, he started Bailey Homes, and at its height, he was constructing 20 custom homes a year. In 2007, Bailey opened Anytime Fitness to satisfy his love for health care. He seemed to have it all, with three boys at home and two solid business ventures. “Everything clicked, and I was very successful,” Bailey said. Bailey changed his mind, however, when the slowing economy put the squeeze on his construction business. In 2010, he applied to Kettering College’s physician assistant program. The move was hard on him and his wife for different reasons. The hours at school demanded a lot of his time, and the financial commitment was a sacrifice. “It was hard on my wife because she was emotionally attached to me being a builder,” Bailey said.

Bailey never imagined he’d be sitting in a classroom at age 39 while his wife juggled the job of getting three boys — ages 6, 8 and 10 — to their different sporting events. There are days he leaves the house at 8 a.m. and doesn’t return until midnight. Still, the family believes the result will be worth it, and Bailey knows he’s not alone. He’s one of five students in his major who are around his age. “I wouldn’t have chosen this if it wasn’t something that I love,” Bailey said. “I really wanted to do this. And one thing I have learned is that it is important to do what you want to do. It is not all about the money.”

Bailey is on track to graduate in the summer of 2013. Like Gudlewski, Miller and many others now at Kettering College, it will be a new chapter. The recession provided opportunities that many may never have taken. Still, some aren’t ready to look at it in so positive a light. “Was the recession a blessing in disguise?” Miller asked herself. “I guess some people would say that. But I can’t when I think of all the lives it affected. I was just someone blessed to get a second chance.”

Eric Bailey finished his military career in 1997 with the intention of becoming a doctor, but circumstances led him in a different direction.

Eric Bailey & Family

Bailey openedAnytime Fitnessin 2007 to satisfy his love for health care.

I really wanted to do this.And one thing I have learned is that it is important to do what you want to do. It is not all about the money.

9pacesetter · summer 2012k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

Dear Alumni,

We are excited about the activities planned for this year, especially alumni weekend. Kettering College turns 45 this year, and we want to celebrate with you and your family. The celebration begins Friday, Sept. 14, at Young’s Dairy in Yellow Springs with a catered meal that includes admission to miniature golf, batting cages, hayrides and much more. And of course we’ll

serve ice cream — lots of ice cream. Birthday celebrations are always more fun with family, so we hope to see you there.

The weekend celebration will continue on Saturday, Sept. 15, with a light lunch and an opportunity to give back to the college by working on campus with our Service Learning Honors Program to prepare and package donations for the mission field. This is a wonderful way to impact our mission outreach both here and abroad.

During the spring, a focus group of dedicated alumni met to provide feedback on alumni relations. Over dinner, the group shared experiences of past alumni events and provided input on future programming. Please contact me if you are interested in joining the alumni focus group. I’d like to continue expanding our services, and I’d love to know what you think.

I look forward to celebrating our 45th birthday with you in September.

Sincerely, Amy Ortiz-MorettaDirector of Alumni Relations and Career Servicesamy.moretta@kc.edu

alumni news

We wantto hear

from you!

UPDATE YOUR INFO

We know that life’s journey will take you many places, and we’d like to keep in touch!

Be sure to update your information with the Alumni Relations Office.

Simply fill out the online form located at www.KC.edu/alumni,

email alumni@kc.edu

or call (937) 395-8490.

Attention, Alumni!

10 pacesetter · winter 2012 k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

class notes

1970sLuree (Jackson) Hereford ’70 lives in Laurel, Md. Her email address is luree2@yahoo.com.

Darleen (Tachenko) Stout-Erickson ’72 and her husband, Steve Erickson, live in Cleveland. Darleen’s email address is chink50@yahoo.com.

Diane (Perkins) Wish ’72 is presi-dent and CEO of Centers for Dialysis Care in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Her email address is dpw@cdcare.org.

Sandra Swift ’75 lives in Irvine, Calif. Her email address is misssandiswift@yahoo.com.

Vicky (Gilbert) Hamilton ’76 is a field service hearing representative for Care Works Consultants and lives in Lebanon, Ohio. Her email address is Hamilton@go-concepts.com

Paul Thompson ’77 is married to fellow Kettering College alumna Tammy Meyer ’83. Paul is an imaging equipment specialist at Kettering Medical Center. His email address is moonlightsound@jojade.org.

1980sDoreen (Austin) Erickson ’80 is a professor at Capella University in Minneapolis. She earned her doctorate from Colorado State University in counseling education, specializing in human develop-ment and family studies. She and husband, Warren, have two children, Taylor and Evan. They live in Lafayette, Colo. Doreen’s email address is daericks@comcast.net.

Kenneth Adams ’81 is a physician assistant at Claremore Veterans Center in Claremore, Okla. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Fort Gibson, Okla., and can be contacted by email at Pacdive@aol.com.

Patricia (Turpen) Tencza ’81 is chief executive officer at New Mexico Donor Services in Albuquerque, N.M. She and her husband, Norbert, live in Albuquerque. Pat’s email address is Pat.tencza@yahoo.com.

Jacquelyn Newsome ’82 lives in Parrottsville, Tenn. Her email address is njackie91@yahoo.com.

David Randall ’83 is a territory manager for alternate care at Masimo Corp. He and his wife, Linda, live in Springboro, Ohio. His email address is dhrdrum@hotmail.com.

1990sThomas Williamson ’90 Dayton. His email address is williamsonthomas70@yahoo.com.

Kathleen (Rowell) Witte ’90 works at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Dayton. She and her husband, Edward, live in Troy, Ohio. Her email address is Nlnsk8r@aol.com.

Alyssa (Quigley) Alden ’91 was named manager of care management at Clinton Memorial Hospital in Wilmington, Ohio.

Michael E. Harris ’92 completed his MSN degree after graduating from Kettering and is manager of the operating room for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He also is a professor at Xavier University. He and his wife, Lisa, have a hobby farm near Cincinnati. His email address is ouinerdogz@aol.com.

Terry Johnson ’93 lives in Germantown, Ohio, with his wife, Heather. He is an anatomy educator at Miamisburg High School. His email address is TAJ683@aol.com.

Kathleen (Yarbrough) Thatcher ’94 is a physician assistant at Eastwood Health and Wellness Center in Lancaster, Ohio. She and her husband, Joseph, live in Logan, Ohio. Her email address is kayteepac@gmail.com.

Erin Tinnerman ’96 is a physician assistant in Newport Beach, California. Erin’s email address is ejtinnerman@gmail.com.

Brian Lee ’98 lives in Spokane, Wash., and works for Deaconess Medical Center. His email address is crttblee@hotmail.com.

Cathy (Pohle) Marchionda ’98 is a physician assistant at Maui Medical Group in Wailuku, Hawaii. She and her husband, Craig, live in Kihei, Hawaii. Her email address is campachi@comcast.net.

Patricia (Turpen) Tencza ’81

Michael Harris ’92 with wife, Lisa

Alyssa (Quigley)Alden ’91

Doreen (Austin)Erickson ’80and family

Tell usyour news!

11pacesetter · winter 2012k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

class notes class notes

WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS! Did you get married? Have a baby? Go on a great vacation? We want to see it all! Share and submit your events and photos to alumni@kc.edu.

We want to see your smiling face!

Anne Erisman-Kroger ’03 is a physician assistant and the program coordinator for Mercy Healthy Weight Solutions. She completed her master’s degree at the University of Nebraska and lives in Dayton. Her email address is ame2542@gmail.com.

Angela Fields ’04 lives in Xenia, Ohio, with her husband, Paul. She works at Miami Valley Hospital as a clinical nurse; her email address is NurseRAngie@netscape.net.

Leslie Price ’04 lives in San Antonio with her husband, Benjamin Oakley. She works for an internal medicine physician and loves to travel. Her recent trips included Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

Kristin Raines ’08 lives in La Grange, Ohio. Her email address is rosie2@hotmail.com.

Michael Willis ’08 is a nuclear medicine technologist at King’s Daughters Medical Center. He lives in Lucasville, Ohio, and his email address is michael.willis10@yahoo.com.

Anthony Schwaiger ’10 is a cardiovascular interventional technologist/X-ray techni-cian at Springfield (Ohio) Regional Medical Center. He lives in Springfield. His email address is anthony.schwaiger@me.com.

Vestine (Mukanshimiye) Kiza ’10 works at Fayette County Memorial Hospital as a physician assistant. She and husband, Loic, live in Dayton. Her email address is stinapj@gmail.com.

Jessica (Jenkins) Ledford ’10 and her husband, Jared, live in Brookville, Ohio. She is pursuing her MSN at Urbana University and works at Miami Valley Hospital as a charge nurse.

In Memoriam:Joyce (Champion) Bacon ’90 died Feb. 23, 2012. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Dickerson, a Vietnam War veteran. She is survived by daughters Alexa (Reed) Rohr and Jessica Miller and five grandchildren.

Kenneth Guy Simmons ’78 passed away on May 4, 2012, at age 58. He is survived by his wife, Joanne (Fowble) Simmons ’78 and daughters Chelsea Rae Simmons and Ashlea Nichole Simmons; brother Eric Simmons ’72 and wife Theresa (Krainz) Simmons ’77; brother Gordon Simmons and wife Teresa Simmons ’91; sister Karen Weaver and husband John; niece Lauren (Simmons) Maddox ’02 and husband Jason; and nephew Camron Simmons, currently stationed in South Korea.

2000sLauren (Simmons) Maddox ’02 married Jason Maddox on March 14, 2010. The fun-filled reception included lots of cake on this special “pi” day.

Ken Simmons with (from left) daughter Nikki, wife JoAnne (Fowble) Simmons ’77 and daughter Chelsea.

Lester ’99, Jennifer ’96, Lucas & Caleb Ortiz

Leslie Price ’04 with her husband, Benjamin Oakley

Simmons FamilyFront: Theresa (Krainz) Simmons ’77, JoAnne (Fowble) Simmons ’78. Back: Ken Simmons ’78, Eric Simmons ’72, Camron Simmons, Teresa Simmons ’91, Gordon Simmons, and Lauren (Simmons) Maddox ’02.

Lester Ortiz ’99 and Jennifer (Blosser) Ortiz ’96 married in 2001 and live in Silver Spring, Md., with sons Lucas and Caleb. Lester is a charge nurse in the emergency department at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Md. Jennifer completed her master’s in physical therapy at Loma Linda University and is founder and owner of Her Health, a physical therapy practice in Columbia, Md., that specializes in women’s health.

SIMMONS/MADDOX WEDDING

:)

k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e12 pacesetter · summer 2012

Paul Francis always wanted to be a doctor, but as the son of a steelworker, it seemed he’d follow in his father’s footsteps. Francis became the second generation of Francis men on the Armco Steel payroll after he graduated from high school in 1974. The job was like gold to those living in Middletown, Ohio. It offered security, stability and a solid income. All that changed in the mid-1980s with widespread layoffs in manufacturing. For the next 10 years, jobs were hard to find; job security was a memory. In 1992 — with a wife and two young children to support — Francis began to reevaluate his life. “As a young kid, you can work as hard as you can, but none of that matters,” he said. “If you haven’t put 30 years into the business you’d get laid off. I got to a point where I didn’t like the confines I was in, and I wanted something in my hands, a degree, that I could do something with.” Francis never forgot about his aspirations to become a doctor. He became a volunteer firefighter and paramedic, and through that job, he got to see what paramedics did firsthand. The department’s medical advisor taught him what it meant to be a physician assistant. His curiosity for medicine continued to grow. Then one night in October 1992, while helping another firefighter move a refrigerator down a flight of stairs, he broke his leg. Francis took it as an opportunity to put his blooming love for medicine to the test. Before the surgery to repair his leg, he asked the surgeon if he could remain awake. “This was my chance to see if this is something I would really like to do,” Francis said. “It sealed the deal.” Francis entered Kettering’s physician assistant program as he neared his 40th birthday. Starting college 20 years after high school was a scary step, he said; while the steel industry was unpredictable, it was something he knew. His first year was challenging; his first term, he had a C average. To make matters worse, he received a letter from Armco telling him they could finally hire him back. “I questioned whether I was on the right course,” Francis recalled. “But the overriding factor was my wife and my kids. I wanted something more for all of them.”

Francis moved forward; his determination caught the attention of Paul DeLange, his microbiology professor. “He was quite distraught, wondering how he would make it,” DeLange said. “He quickly learned what it took to study and ended up graduating from the PA program. I tell his story to most of my micro classes as an example of how you can make it if you really put your mind and energy to it.” Francis graduated with his associate degree in 1996 and got his first PA job with a family practitioner. He returned to Kettering College two more times, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1999 and his master’s in 2005. “It surprised me, I guess,” Francis said of returning for each degree. “(School) no longer scares me like it did in ’93. It gives me much more confidence each time I go.” Francis — who works at University Hospital in Cincinnati on its psychiatric ward — now has his sights set on an MBA. Still, the degrees aren’t what bring Francis the most pride; it’s the ripple effect his original decision. His children, who were just 6 and 3 when he left Armco, are following in their father’s footsteps. Son Ron graduated from Kettering College’s PA program in July 2010. His daughter is earning a degree in special education from Miami University. “What I started has paid off,” Francis said. “The proof is seeing my kids take the same path, take care of themselves and realize that success is there if you really try hard. I’ve always told them: It’s not the degree that makes the person, but the person who makes the degree.”

alumni spotlight

degrees,a newcareerand a

thirst for lifelong

learning

3

by Julie Thompson

It’s not the degree that makes the person,

but the person who makes the degree.

”

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Son Ron Francis graduated from KetteringCollege’s PA program in July 2010.

13pacesetter · summer 2012k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

alumni spotlight

by Julie Thompson

competitivenew service gives students

in a competitive job m

arket

Kristy Hoch spent eight years as a medical technician in the U.S. Air Force, helping meet each crisis that wheeled through the emergency room. It was a career she knew she was made for. When Hoch left the military in 2009, she entered Kettering College’s Troops to Nurses pro-gram, earning scholarships and attending three mission trips. When she graduated in April 2011, she wasn’t prepared for the pressure of finding a job. “After I graduated, I started applying for jobs,” Hoch said. “People had told me how competitive it was, but I didn’t think it would happen to me.” Hoch applied to 35 jobs in health care and was devastated when she had heard nothing after three months. The silence began

to erode her confidence from years of experience and passion. “After working so hard toward my goal, it was difficult to realize it came down to this,” Hoch said. “I couldn’t even get an interview. Finally, when I did receive a call to interview, it wasn’t much better, and the experience felt like a nightmare.” While talking about her struggle with a group of fellow students and faculty, Hoch found out about a new career services program at Kettering College. It breathed new life into her job hunt and transformed the way she marketed herself to potential employers. And she landed a dream job.

An advocate Hoch said the key to her turnaround was support from Amy Ortiz-Moretta, Kettering’s new director of alumni relations and career services. Ortiz-Moretta had not only the academic knowl-edge and tools Hoch needed to better position herself in the work force, but also the personal experience that made her sensitive to Hoch’s circumstances. In 2004, Ortiz-Moretta’s husband, Sonny, entered Ketter-ing’s radiology program after struggling to land a job in computer networking. At the time, Ortiz-Moretta was director of student life and the Residence Hall. After much thought and prayer, she and Sonny decided health care was a strong field for him to enter. But when he graduated in 2007, he found himself back where he started. “Eight years ago, everyone around us kept saying he would always find a job in health care and that he would never be without a job,” Ortiz-Moretta said. “Then he graduated and couldn’t find a job.”

Hoch attended three mission trips while at Kettering College, including a trip to Belize.

14 pacesetter · summer 2012 k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

As she watched her husband struggle to find a job, Ortiz-Moretta wondered if there was a better way to prepare and support Kettering College students entering the work force. She knew the jobs were out there — students just needed the tools and coaching that would help them stand out. She started conversations with College administration and even went back for her master’s. In 2011, just when she graduated with her master’s in counseling from the University of Dayton, she was promoted to Kettering’s director of alumni relations and the newly created career services program. The program was created for alumni like Hoch, but also for current students. Ortiz-Moretta can still remember the October day when she met Hoch. “When Kristy came into my office, I saw a woman with so much potential,” Ortiz-Moretta said. “She is a woman with incredible skills and capabilities, but at that moment, she was so nervous about her next interview that she wasn’t able to communicate her experience to anyone.” The first thing Ortiz-Moretta did was look at Hoch straight in the eye and build her back up through words of truth. Ortiz-Moretta wanted to take what she saw on Hoch’s résumé and tell her she was going to be a great nurse. Then they created a plan.

A plan Getting a job today is more than writing a good résumé and looking professional. It requires an educated approach. Ortiz-Moretta spends most of her time teaching graduates about the nuances that make the difference between having a résumé read or becoming one of 100 stuck in cyberspace. A résumé is not so much about form as it is about content, she said. Managers may receive 300 résumés for one job and rarely look over each one. Instead, modern computer software allows assistants to scan résumés for keywords. Those candidates who have matching words are pulled to the top and presented to hiring managers. Ortiz-Moretta helps students to craft résumés that include keywords hiring managers look for. That’s why she often encourages students to use experience — such as volunteer work or internships — that can show work ethic. Secondly, Ortiz-Moretta emphasizes networking. Candidates have a better chance of being considered for a position if someone they know recommends them. “In a highly competitive job market, hiring managers want someone they can trust and some-one who they personally know would make a good fit,” Ortiz-Moretta said. “Who better to suggest a new hire than someone who is familiar with the workplace culture and the person they are referring? This is not a guarantee, but it certainly improves your odds.”

a competitive edge

Amy Ortiz-Moretta offers students résumé workshops.

15pacesetter · summer 2012k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

Ortiz-Moretta saw the effects of networking firsthand when a nursing student asked for her advice. Nadine Grey had applied to 30 different jobs, and each time, she received an automated “Thanks, but no thanks” letter. Ortiz-Moretta encouraged her to talk to anyone she knew currently working in the health care field and ask if they would be willing to share her résumé with their managers. Grey found another Kettering College alumna who agreed to take her résumé to her manager. When Grey’s friend handed the résumé to her manager, the manager was shocked Grey had never been considered for the job. Grey had an interview within 48 hours of the manager seeing the résumé, and shortly after, she was offered the job. “I’m always telling graduates: It’s not what you know, but who you know,” Ortiz-Moretta said. “The hiring manager will always consider someone recommended by a worker they trust.”

Getting an interview is a key, but being prepared for it is even more critical. Often, people don’t under-stand the power of the little things such as how to dress for the interview. Many times, individuals will walk into an interview with little to no information on the organization or company they are meeting. “That speaks volumes and lets them know that you really don’t care,” Ortiz-Moretta said. Often, job seekers just need direction and coaching from someone who understands how an interview will be conducted, Ortiz-Moretta said. Most interviews are behavior-based, since facts about

experience are clearly defined on a résumé. Therefore, most hiring managers want candidates to answer questions with anecdotes from their past experience. This was an area where Hoch wasn’t prepared. “One of the jobs I applied for was at a hospital, and when I walked into the interview, I didn’t know what I was doing,” Hoch said. “I was trying to sell myself, but I didn’t know how. I told her one of my goals was to be the go-to-girl and she looked at me like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I was in and out of there in 15 minutes.”

A future Thanks to Ortiz-Moretta’s help, Hoch got a second chance. This time, she was prepared when the call came for the interview and was much more confident in what she had to offer. As a new graduate, Hoch realized she still had a story to sell from the work she did while in the Air Force and while attending Kettering College. Through the retelling of stories, Hoch proved she was a fast learner, a dependable team player and a passionate servant. It paid off. Hoch still remembers the day she got the call: “I nearly drove off the road when I heard I got the job. I had been offered the position as an ER nurse, and that had always been my dream job.” Ortiz-Moretta said she hopes to be a part of many more stories like Hoch’s. She realizes that many students and graduates are in the same position. They’ve worked so hard for their degree and now are facing an extremely competitive job market. For some, it becomes a stressful time as family members who supported them — both emotionally and financially — are now wondering why they haven’t landed the job they had all dreamed about. Most graduates already have what it takes to get the job; what they need is someone willing to come alongside them and cheer them on to the finish line.“When students come in here to my office, I just try to encourage them and let them know they are already on the right track,” Ortiz-Moretta said. “It’s not a hard job to do when they are all already remarkable.”

a competitive edge

I nearly drove off the road when I heard I got the job. I had been offered the position as an ER nurse, and that had always been my dream job.”

“

: : Kristy Hoch

Amy Ortiz-Moretta strives to provide Kettering College students with coaching and the tools they will need to help them stand out in today’s competitive job search.

k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e16 pacesetter · summer 2012

partnerships

Establishing a scholarship is one of the most meaningful ways of ensuring that Kettering College’s 45-year tradition of excellence will continue to be available to the most talented students, whatever their circumstances. Partner-ships through scholarships — either through annual giving or an endowment — literally change lives. Scholarships are created two ways — through annually renewable giving or through endowments that support scholarships now and in the future. An annual scholarship is given each year. The amount of the gift received annually is the amount of the scholarship. An annual scholarship may be changed to an endowed scholarship at the wish of the donor. An endowed scholarship is a perpetual scholarship at Kettering College. A minimum of $10,000 is required for an endowed scholarship. This support level can be reached through a single gift or over a period of up to four years. Once the amount given reaches $10,000, an award will be given to a student based on the fund’s earnings. The College ensures consistent awarding of earnings while the principal amount is invested so it will continue to grow.

To change lives for the better. What better investment can any of us make than supporting the hopes and dreams of a student? You can make a life-changing difference with a gift to a scholarship.

To set an example. We’ve seen it over and over again: the student who receives a scholarship today becomes the donor to a scholarship fund tomorrow. Your gift can establish a chain of philanthropy that extends far beyond your lifetime.

To make a gift that lasts. With an endowed scholarship, you can create a fund that is invested each year, producing annual income used for scholarship aid. The principal remains intact, ensuring that the fund continues in perpetuity.

Establishing a scholarship can make dreams come true for those who want to develop their talent for healing and further their education, and it can pass on the spirit of giving and caring that embodies Kettering College. Marjorie Neumiller Brenneke ’69 says it best: “My life has been blessed. I am thankful that I had the opportunity for education and the degree in nursing I received at Kettering College. In life’s ups and downs, I always knew I had my nursing degree as an advantage. What I didn’t realize, until recently, is how much pleasure I would receive from helping another person achieve the goal of a degree in nursing. Now it is our pleasure and responsibility to assist others in achieving their success.”

To discuss the many possibilities for designing scholarships that reflect your interest, contact Kathryn Keyes at (937) 395-8607 or kathryn.keyes@khnetwork.org.

Partnering with Kettering College through scholarship givingB y K a t h r y n K e y e s , D i r e c t o r o f C o l l e g e D e v e l o p m e n t

Margaret E. Benner was an extraordinary, determined and God-fearing woman. Being chosen to receive a scholarship in her memory was an incredible honor for me. I hope I am able to adequately represent the spirit she embodied and carry on her legacy of genuine Christian nursing care and dedication. Not only has this scholarship been an awesome financial blessing to my family and me, but it also has strengthened our faith. Since making the decision to leave my career and go to nursing school, God has provided for every need we’ve had — and right when we’ve needed it. This scholarship was no exception. I give all the glory to God and am so thankful to the Kettering Medical Center Foundation, Kettering College, and especially Suzanne Coleman, for their generosity and selflessness. Together, they have made a tremendous impact on my life. I promise to pay it forward and desire to make a positive, eternal impact on the many lives I will have an opportunity to touch as a professional nurse.” — Tiffany Thompson ’12, nursing,

Margaret E. Benner Memorial Scholarship

Why give to scholarships?

I am humbled and touched by the kindness of strangers who chose to share their gift with me. They have been helping hands along my journey to become a nurse and have shown me what true Christian caring is all about.” — Nikki Petry ’12, nursing, Marjorie Brenneke Scholarship, Nita Jennings Scholarship

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17pacesetter · summer 2012k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g ek e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

perspectives

Long Night’s Journey Into DayB y D a v i d V a n D e n b u r g h , P h . D . , p r o f e s s o r o f r e l i g i o n

That’s in quotes because we didn’t do much studying — though we did a lot of philosophizing — about life, and girls (this was a men’s college, so girls were a major topic), and the war (in Vietnam). We argued our points of view, and I remember some heated arguments about God and religion and Christianity and church. I was the militant atheist. I wish now that I could somehow go back and undo the damage I did with my ideas about religion. One of my favorite assertions was that people were idiots to believe the Bible because it was full of errors. If anyone had said, “Really? Show us one,” I would have been stumped, but that never occurred, which taught me that most religious people weren’t well-informed about what they professed to believe and why they professed it. I was a confirmed atheist and evolutionist. To my mind, God was a crutch invented by people too weak to face life on their own. I was proud of my independence: I was the master of my fate and the captain of my soul (to borrow a phrase).

The summer after I graduated (pre-med with a BS in chemistry), I ran into some religious relatives. It was a bit of a problem because I liked them, but I wished they would discard their foolish religious beliefs. I thought I could enlighten them, argue them out of their faith. I marshaled my arguments into a long letter, but my arguments wouldn’t stay in line. I went back to my notes from college science classes, but the facts seem to conflict, and I found myself thinking

In my mind, the story always starts in the green room of the college theater where a group of us used to hang out and “study.”

18 pacesetter · summer 2012 k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

perspectives

I found myself concluding — reluctantly — that the facts suggested more strongly that there was a God than that there wasn’t. I was either going to have to be intellectually dishonest or admit that the believers actually had a case for faith. I concluded that it was more likely that there was a creation and a creator than not — which suggested I needed to find out something about Him or Her or It.

I worked my way through all the religions I could find, leaving Christianity until last because I knew some Chris-tians and was pretty sure there was nothing important or true there. When I finally got to it, I discovered that it was utterly unlike any of the other world religions. They all made sense; Christianity didn’t. It was crazy: A God who creates beings with the capacity to kill Him, but who loves them so much He puts Himself into their hands? A God who eschews power in favor of love, who tells His followers that greatness is to be last of all and servant of all? I came to the conclusion that the story of Jesus in the New Testament is true, that He really is God, Lord, and Savior. A few months later, I met Him as a living presence and was changed.

At first, my plan was to be a physician, but then it occurred to me that saving physical life wasn’t really all that important. All patients die — and so do all the doctors. If I patched them up, they would just need patching up again and again until they finally died. Then what? I wanted to do something with eternal consequence, something that would change people so profoundly that they would change the world. So I went into “eternal medicine” instead. Eternal medicine is a kind of cardiac

surgery, but the heart in question is the spiritual heart. Practicing eternal medicine means helping people to find the life they always wanted by experiencing a true heart transplant — giving up the heart of flesh for a new spiritual heart that loves Christ and wants to

When I was in college, my friends and I all subscribed to a philosophy that was summarized in a few sound bites: “Do whatever you want as long as you don’t hurt anybody else.” “You only go around once in life, so you have to grab for all the gusto you can get” (we borrowed it from a beer commercial). And, “Astride of a grave and a difficult birth; down in the hole, lingeringly, the grave-digger puts on the forceps … the light gleams a moment, then it’s night once more” (yes, we really were that morose). Life was a major disappointment, so one should do whatever one wanted — but not hurt others doing it. As I thought about the story of Christ, our philosophy seemed to fall apart — so childish and self-serving, so superficial. Living the way Jesus lived made so much more sense. But it was so out of step with the way I had been living, the way the rest of the world lived. Could anybody actually live like that? I determined to try.

I’m not very good at it. I fail more often than I succeed. But I stay committed. Knowing, loving, following, trusting Jesus is what my life is about. People could call me a hypocrite, and I would accept that label, but I’m so much more — I’m a selfish failure. But here’s the amazing grace: God doesn’t hold that against me.

A LONG NIGHT’S JOURNEY INTO DAY

David “before” God Wedding of David and wife Chris David’s ordination

follow where He leads.

19pacesetter · summer 2012k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

perspectivesperspectives

I was a pastor for 37 years. I did a lot of hospital chaplaincy and clinical pastoral education. I’ve been with a lot of dying people. I’ve done more funerals than I want to remember. I’ve seen the depths of human misery, and I’ve seen nobility and courage and self-sacrifice. In 2007, I took an invitation from Kettering College to teach full-time and moved across the street from the campus church to the College. I love the people I work with and the students I teach. I love that most of my students will end up practicing health care and will therefore have an opportunity to make a huge difference in the lives of others — which inspires me to try to make a huge difference in their lives while they’re here

I’m so blessed with great people and amazing experiences. At the top of that list is my family: my wife, Chris, an RN with a master’s degree in nursing; son Davie (that’s what we call him, though he’s married with two sons); son Jonathan (also married with a son), who is attending Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; my mom, 87, who moved to be near us and teaches us about the blessings of adding another generation into our family experience.

In time off, I like nothing better than to hang out with my family, preferably aboard our family sailboat. I started sailing in college and bought my first sailboat for $400 my sophomore year. I loved the quiet and the change of pace that sailing provides. When I decided to go to graduate school for religion instead of medicine, my parents told me I’d be paying for that myself, so I sold my sailboat to pay the tuition for the first semester; it was just enough. I think God honored that and made sure that I had a boat

to sail for the rest of my life. Every time we sold a sailboat because we couldn’t afford it, God provided a bigger one. A friend would call up and say, “I hear you sold your boat. Hey, I have a sailboat I hardly ever use. If you’ll help take care of it, you can sail it whenever you want.”

A few years ago, we had a total house fire. We lost every-thing, but we had insurance. We had this old piano that my mother-in-law bought us when the kids were little for about $400. The insurance company gave us $25,000 for it. Turns out it was old and rare. That bought our current sailboat (I tell people God not only turns water into wine, He turns pianos into sailboats). We keep the boat on Lake Michigan and have a great time cruising as much as we can manage. We have a great time visiting the many interesting harbors up and down Lake Michigan’s eastern shore. We don’t go anywhere fast, but we have great quality time.

God is good. Here I am at almost 65, and my life is so blest I can hardly believe it. Every single day I think, “What have I done to deserve this?” And the answer is, “Nothing at all, but you are loved even so.”

A LONG NIGHT’S JOURNEY INTO DAY

David bought his first sailboat for $400

GO

D I

S G

OO

D.

David today with his grandsons

What led you to the field of physician assistant?I knew I wanted to be in health care as a clinician in an office setting. I wanted to impact the lives of patients by providing not only the knowledge, but also the motivation to become healthy in mind, body and spirit. Being a PA allows for time to interact with patients in this fashion. Since I also wanted to commit my time and energy to having a family as well, the flexibility that the PA profession provided looked like a great fit for me.

How do you feel about being both a Kettering College alumna and now a faculty member?I’m very proud to be a graduate of this program and humbled that I am able to give back to the very institution that gave me the ability to do what I have enjoyed all these years.

How is Kettering College different now from when you first graduated in 1997?Meat in the cafeteria and a more challenging and comprehensive PA program. There are some different faces on the faculty, but a surprising number are the same.

What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in the physician assistant field over the last 15 years?A lot of the changes honestly give me cause for concern: more emphasis on the practice of “defensive medicine”; an increase

in the influence of the insurance company over individual patient care decisions; and electronic medical records and the increasing role this plays in the patient encounter. There have also been some positive changes, especially restrictions on a pharmaceutical company’s ability to provide incentives for physicians. I remember having the offer of a $500 gift card for listening to a 30-minute presentation on a particular pharma-ceutical agent. Those days are over, and so are the increased costs of that type of “clinician education” that would be passed on to the patient.

What is the most interesting trip you have ever taken? Why?Belize, in Central America. It was important for me to see a perspective different from my own. I was amazed how content people were with so much less than I had, and I was impressed by the realization of what really matters in life — connection with God, family and friends; purpose in life; health; food; clothing (very little near the equator); and shelter.

What is the funniest/most entertaining thing you’ve ever experienced?A spring break road trip across the country with friends from college. I tell students, “Enjoy your time in school. The friends you make may be friends for a lifetime.”

If you had unlimited funds and unlimited time, what would you do?I would make a contribution to research and education in childhood epidemics caused by environmental factors, such as autism.

What one thing happened in your life that had the biggest impact on who you are today?I realized I needed a relationship with God.

Decaf or regular?OK, this is a very important question: grande, sugar-free, hazelnut soy latte is the answer.

If we looked in your refrigerator right now, what would we find?Some people would call me a “crunchy Mom” if they saw my refrigerator. I have lots of fruits, veggies and organic farm-fresh milk in the fridge and organic farm-direct meats in the freezer.

What would be the title of your biography?Just When You Think You Know It All, You Realize How Little You Really Know

Do you have a piece of clothing that you just can’t let go of? I’m more of a shoe collector. I don’t think I can separate from any of my shoes. It’s the shoes and accessories that make an outfit. Imelda Marcos has nothing on me.

What person, living or dead, would you most like to meet (and why)?Imelda Marcos. No, seriously — I’m not sure I could narrow it down to one. Probably my deceased grand-mother. Knowing your roots can be very important. She was a pretty amazing woman, from what I am told.

What’s the first question you want to ask God?Thanks for taking me in; I know I don’t deserve it. So, who else made it?

20 pacesetter · winter 2012 k e t t e r i n g c o l l e g e

behind the scenes campus candids

WHO IS

AMY DRAB?Amy Drab is a two-time graduate of Kettering College with an associate degree in physician assistant studies in 1997 and a bachelor’s in health professions in 1999. An adjunct faculty member since 2009, she came on board full time as an assistant professor in 2011.

campus candidsFaculty-Staff Retreat • Beverly Cobb, left, dean for assessment and learning support, and Cynthia Parker, associate professor of nursing, at the annual faculty and staff retreat in February.

Egg Drop • In April, students from the Survey of Physics class conducted the first official KC Egg Drop. They used many materials to protect their precious cargo; the drops occurred outside the Boonshoft Center, with a drop height of approximately 40 feet. Of 23 participating teams, 19 saved their eggs. Shown here: pre-sonography students Stephanie Szeliga, left, and Megan Haney.

Point of Grace • Kettering College was pleased to welcome Christian supergroup Point of Grace to campus for a concert in April. The event capped a series of four concerts sponsored by the Office of Spiritual Life during the 2011-12 school year.

Visit from Heater • To help KC publicize its New Alumni Night ticket opportunity, the Dayton Dragons mascot, Heater, paid the College a visit in March. From left are radiology students Samantha Lepisto, Sharon Zimmerman, Ed Moutoux, Ed Stewart and Shawn Gross.

Nursing Pinning • Nursing graduate Mark DeGuzman ’12 is pinned by Sycamore Medical Center staff nurse Heather Spung ’10 at the department’s annual pinning ceremony, held at Kettering Seventh-day Adventist Church in April.

Chocolate Fountain • Arts and sciences students Samantha Szopo, left, and Kathryn Meginnes show off their goodies from the annual chocolate fountain event in February. Nursing

PinningPoint

of Grace

A Visit fromHeater

ChocolateFountain

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