Excellence:听It’s听黑料科 the Pursuit, Not Perfection

By Kyra Binney ’26

Dorah听Burnell & The Pasteur Pre-Medic Society

The 1926-1927 academic catalog is the first to show pre-medical as a possible major鈥攄escribed as a 鈥渃omposite major鈥濃�攁t Houghton College & Seminary. This coincides with the hiring of Professor听Dorah听Burnell, who came to Houghton in 1926 to teach chemistry.

A native of Nebraska and graduate of State Teachers College (1916) and the University of Nebraska (B.S. 1924, M.A. 1925), Professor Burnell single-handedly built the college鈥檚 chemistry department while fulfilling countless other roles on campus.

Along with colleagues in the Science听Department, Professor Burnell helped students听established听The Pasteur Pre-Medic Society.听In its inaugural appearance in the Boulder in 1928, the society described its aim as听鈥溾�o promote a feeling of comradeship, to gain inspiration for future tasks, and to learn something more of the nature and extent of this their chosen field of endeavor.鈥� The inaugural group boasted 27 members听and by the 1950s, the club was one of the largest and most active on Houghton鈥檚 campus.

Today known as the听Pre-Health Professions Club, the group听remains听one of Houghton鈥檚 largest and most active clubs. Their aim, similarly, is听鈥溾�o serve as an information resource and generate opportunities for fellowship, career exploration and volunteer service for students interested in health-related fields.鈥�

In the dedication of the 1954 Boulder, students听observed听of Professor Burnell that听鈥淸h]er influence was there鈥� Lights were shining out from the meticulously kept chemistry lab until the early morning hours. On the desk were carefully graded papers鈥攁round the room was all the valuable equipment she had听procured. From this lab alumni went forth to succeed鈥� her听influence听was there.鈥�

Professor Burnell鈥檚听influence听remains鈥攊n Houghton鈥檚 chemistry labs, in the Pre-Health Professions Club, in the听lives of service led by so many of听our alumni.听Professor Burnell鈥檚 influence听has听played a role in helping to shape thousands of doctors, nurses, researchers, dentists, pharmacists, public health servants, medical missionaries and more who have gone on to, as Willard J. Houghton would say,听鈥渇ix up the world for Christ.鈥�

By Dr. Jenna (Hill 鈥�15) Smith

I began my Houghton journey in 2011 as a biology major with a chemistry minor. I completed the first听year听Science听Honors program, and听was听very involved听in the听Pre-health听Professionals club and Sigma Zeta math and science honors society. I took quite a few of the upper-level biology electives, especially during my last couple of years there. These classes really helped prepare me for the听challenging听curriculum that was coming听in听graduate school.

I applied to veterinary听school听my senior year and was accepted to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The听course听load was intense in depth and breadth, but听I felt I听had a solid foundation from Houghton. I graduated from Cornell in 2019 and started working at Perry Veterinary Clinic听in Perry, New York,听as an associate veterinarian. I became a partner at Perry Vet in the beginning of 2023. Currently, I practice both small and large animal medicine, splitting my time between cats and dogs in the office, and dairy cows and other large animals on farms throughout听Western New听York. I even go to calls at the Houghton Equestrian center鈥攖alk听about coming full circle!

Live It Out

By Dr. Laura (Jarvis 鈥�06)听Lintner听

When I arrived at Houghton,听biology was my听field of听choice, but I had little direction beyond that. I certainly听didn鈥檛听imagine working as an Associate Professor,听with my days full of not just patient care, but听teaching听medical students,听residents听and fellows. I听didn鈥檛听imagine that听I鈥檇听go to Kenya,听building friendships听and听schools, and providing healthcare for their runners. I听didn鈥檛听imagine that it would be possible to have a career as well as be a wife,听mother听and friend.

Deep friendships, strong听mentors听and meaningful solitude mark my time at Houghton.听The girls of听Hazlett听34, now lifelong friends,听held an MCAT party for me. They dressed up like cats and performed a hilarious, yet strangely encouraging, original poem. I听don’t听think I听would鈥檝e听made it without them. Looking back听on听the classroom, I was blessed to learn from some of the most vibrant professors. Dr.听Aaron听Sullivan taught me about patience and simplicity. Dr.听Larry听Christensen opened each organic chemistry class with a pithy saying or a short story, bringing joy to learning.听Professor听Sunshine听Leonard听鈥�01听always reminded us that our worth was not in our grades. Dr.听Cathy听Freytag generously welcomed me into her life as a friend. It was also during these听four听years that I found a听鈥渇renemy鈥澨齣n distance running. During the volleyball off-season,听I鈥檇听spend countless hours听running听the shoulders of听Route 19听or dizzying laps around the听old suspended听track. Usually听I听ran听by myself, with听only听my prayers and thoughts. Through these miles, The Lord revealed His faithfulness to me by, not only setting a clear career path before me, but by safely getting me through literal听Western New York听blizzards.

Escaping that winter weather, I went to Florida for medical school then onto North Carolina for residency. I knew Wake Forest Family Medicine was the place when I found some of the brightest and most content physicians. After completing my听family听medicine residency, sports medicine听seemed听a natural fit. My dad鈥檚 career was in professional sports (not to mention my mom,听Linda (Clow 鈥�76) Jarvis, and听brother,听Landry Jarvis 鈥�10,听were both Houghton athletes), so my childhood was full of practices, games, and injuries. Plus, my osteopathic education set听a strong foundation听for musculoskeletal medicine.

By Dr. Jamie Potter

When students听walks听through my door for the very first time, they usually already have an idea of what profession they want to pursue. They often know the courses they might听need听and that shadowing someone in the profession is听a good idea鈥攁nd听may even听be听required. They know excellent grades, top scores on entrance exams, and stellar letters of recommendation are necessary.听However, they usually don鈥檛 know听why听they want to take听the听particular path听they鈥檝e chosen.

Some of my students want to pursue a medical profession because they want to help people. Some have been on the receiving end of care and found the work being executed on them fascinating. Some had a close friend or family member who needed specialized care and they saw what a provider did for them in their time of greatest need. Many are pretty smart cookies with proven academic acumen, and they鈥檝e been told they should go into medicine with that aptitude. All of these reasons are good, but none of them really gets to the root of 鈥渨hy medicine is for me.鈥�

Not a single student听will walk the听same path. Each one must develop听an听individual plan听alongside their advisors, and then they must听allow for adjustments as they听learn and grow in their own experiences and abilities. Conversations听with my students听are often long,听and sometimes hard,听as they realize their own limitations,听discover听their real interests, and听explore听their unique skills. They start to听find听their听own personal vocational path, and they听begin听to听think听deeply听about their听why.

In order to听discover their true passion for the vocation of medicine,听my听students听must move beyond the basics of grades,听transcripts,听aptitudes,听and idealized visions of medicine to听find their passion and听their听reason for pursuing this听journey.

By Amanda (Shine 鈥�05) Zambrano

Students鈥� paths into Houghton鈥檚 pre-med track might听look听somewhat听similar, but siblings听Dr.听Jonathan Figueroa 鈥�13听and听Dr.听Alyssa Figueroa 鈥�14听discovered that the paths听beyond Houghton听are as unique and varied as the students themselves.

Jonathan听came听to Houghton in the fall of 2009听thanks to a听desire听to study at听a Christian liberal arts听college听known for its听strong听pre-med program听and听a little guidance from听fellow Timothy Christian School (Piscataway, NJ)听alumnus听Tyler Haggerty 鈥�08. Although Jonathan听didn鈥檛听initially plan to play听collegiate听soccer, a campus visit introduced him to听the coach at the time,听Dr.听Matthew听Webb,听and a team of great young men鈥攕olidifying Jonathan鈥檚听decision听to attend Houghton听and听pursue a biology degree on the pre-med track.

Alyssa, like Jonathan, grew up with aspirations听of becoming听a physician. Although Houghton听wasn鈥檛听initially at the top of her list, she loved the small class sizes and intimate feel of campus. During a听campus听visit for a winter indoor soccer听tournament, Alyssa met听Coach听David Lewis and a few incoming teammates.听The opportunity to study in the Balkans with Houghton鈥檚 East Meets West honors program was the final selling point.听A year after her brother, Alyssa also听enrolled at Houghton听as a biology major on the pre-med track.

The Figueroa siblings were attracted by听the way听Houghton faculty听individualized the pre-health professions track. According to Dr. Jamie Potter,听Interim Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,听Professor of Biology and Director of Pre-Health Professions, faculty help students identify what they love most about听health professions and听then听align those passions with听their academic and co-curricular experiences to put each student on the best possible path.

Both Jonathan and Alyssa听benefitted听from guidance and advising from Dr. Potter, along with insights from beloved Professor Emeritus of Biology Dr. Jim Wolfe, former biology professors听Dr. Matthew Pelletier听and Dr. Aaron Sullivan,听and听campus physician听Dr. David Brubaker 鈥�90. Alyssa had听visions of听internal听medicine听or pediatrics听while Jonathan听initially considered a career in听international medicine.

鈥淚 liked having professors who really took the time to get to know me,鈥� shared Jonathan. 鈥淭hey wanted me to perform well, but they also challenged me. Nothing was听given,听I had to work for it.鈥澨�

Alyssa听reflected on听the well-known challenges presented by听Dr. Karen Torraca鈥檚 鈥�93听infamous organic chemistry course鈥攁ffectionately (or not) known by generations of Houghton students as 鈥淥-Chem.鈥�

鈥淚 had听a听conversation with Dr. Wolfe as well as Dr. Potter, wondering if I should keep pursuing medicine, if听it听was听going to be possible for me,鈥� said Alyssa.听鈥淭hey were mentors who assured me I was capable, that everyone听struggles听and it听wasn鈥檛听meant to be easy.听That听close mentorship was important to me.鈥澨�

Jonathan鈥檚听international听interests resulted in a minor in public health, which included a study abroad opportunity听in Ecuador听with former intercultural studies professor听Dr. Ndunge听Kiiti听鈥�88. Dr.听Kiiti听inspired Jonathan to see health beyond a medical and pharmaceutical viewpoint,听helping him听discover how to听integrate听his faith with his work鈥攁 formative learning experience he carries into his work today.

Alyssa explored options in both osteopathic and allopathic medicine, and in her听advising with听Dr. Potter discovered that osteopathic medicine听was the right approach to her career aspirations.听Alyssa听found听Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), in Erie, Pennsylvania,听to be the right听option听for her to pursue听medical school.

Jonathan was intent on听pursuit of听allopathic medicine.听After Houghton, Jonathan attended St. George University School of Medicine (Grenada),听motivated by St. George鈥檚 placement rate at his residence hospital of choice鈥擭ew York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. After听three years听in听residency, Jonathan听did a two-year fellowship at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Today, Jonathan is an endocrinologist at New York University Langone, where he teaches residents, primarily in an outpatient听clinical setting. Alyssa听did听her residency听in internal medicine at Jefferson Health Northeast in Philadelphia. When her husband听Lucas, a member of the US Air Force, was stationed for active duty in Tucson, Arizona, she听took on the role of听internal medicine hospitalist at Northwest Healthcare鈥擳ucson. She recently was听also听appointed听Associate Director for the Internal Medicine Residency听at the hospital.

The Figueroa siblings carry the things they learned at Houghton with them as they serve their patients on opposite sides of the country.

By Amanda (Shine 鈥�05) Zambrano

Lifelong learning is a thread running through the fabric of 1986 graduate Dr. Tim Coetzee鈥檚 story. The story begins at a small Christian school in New Jersey where Tim fell in love with biology under the tutelage of his AP biology teacher, Kathleen (Fink 鈥�77) Donaldson. He was interested in a career as a physician, and Kathleen shared Houghton鈥檚 outstanding pre-med reputation with him. As a missionary kid and pastor鈥檚 kid, Tim discovered the financial aid Houghton offered made it an affordable choice for his family. But it was more than just pre-med and scholarships that brought Tim to Houghton. The direct influence of a Houghton alumna was a driving factor in Tim鈥檚 choice.

Tim started his Houghton听journey,听as听have听many alumni, on the Highlander Wilderness Adventure under the leadership of听Doris 鈥淢abel鈥� Nielsen 鈥�71. During Highlander, he read Francis Schaeffer鈥檚听The Mark of a Christian, and it was a defining moment. 鈥淔orty听years later,鈥� said Tim, 鈥淚 still remember the impact of that book.听It鈥檚听a bit of an organizing principle for me today. There are so many things we could be distinguished by, but the idea that听鈥榯hey鈥檒l know you by your love for each other鈥櫶齣s something that infuses the work I do today.鈥�

Although Tim was initially determined to become a physician, by his sophomore year he knew he was on the wrong path. After a three-week practicum experience, during which he shadowed a family medical doctor, Tim found himself seeking the guidance of his advisor, Houghton biology professor and director of pre-med at the time, Dr. Donald Munro. Tim鈥檚 love of biology and desire to move away from clinical medical practice landed him in Houghton鈥檚 biology labs conducting research. Like Houghton students today in the Shannon Summer Research Institute and in independent research studies, Tim was pursuing his study of biology in a distinctly Houghton way鈥攄oing science in a lab rather than simply listening to a lecture.

鈥淚t was great, because at Houghton I was pretty much learning by doing,鈥� said Tim. 鈥淭he uniqueness of Houghton was that I was doing a lot of research on my own, figuring things out for myself through trial and error. It听wasn鈥檛听an opportunity I would have had at larger institutions.鈥�
Tim completed two independent research projects and a senior honors project during his time at Houghton. He听also听found his passion听at Houghton,听in听Dr. Charles Detwiler鈥檚 鈥�72听classroom studying microbiology. The seeds planted in microbiology led Tim to post-graduate education at Albany Medical College where he completed an M.S. and a Ph.D. studying molecular biology鈥攑articularly听that now-famous molecule mRNA.

Tim鈥檚 work in molecular biology put him on a path that led through research labs with funding听provided by听the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, to offices where he managed projects and started up the for-profit research arm听FastForward听LLC. He found himself on another learning curve, which required him to rely on the soft skills he picked up at Houghton鈥攑articularly听effective听communication.
鈥淒r. Munro instilled the importance of communication,鈥� remarked Tim. 鈥淚听learned听that clarity in communication, both听in how you write and in how you speak,听is important. But because the ideas in science often require visuals, I also learned about the importance of visuals that have clarity and impact.鈥�

A year ago, Tim entered another phase of his lifelong learning journey when he was appointed CEO of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Those lessons in communication have grown to encompass storytelling, relating to prospective funders about the difference the society鈥檚 work makes in the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis.

And it听isn鈥檛听just听the听communication skills听honed at Houghton听that Tim听relies听on. 鈥淭he commitment to people is something I continue to carry with me.听I look back on the people part of my time at Houghton, the emphasis on relationships with people and the way my faith journey influences how I serve the people right in front of me every day.鈥�

Dear Friends,

One of the greatest blessings of serving Houghton as President is getting to know our students. They inspire me daily and remind me of why Houghton鈥檚 mission is so vitally听important,听today听and tomorrow.

As students come to Houghton,听they听are in various stages of understanding the vocations the Lord is calling them to and equipping them for. For some, their calling has been clear for years. For听some, their understanding of how the Lord wants to use them is evolving.听For others, they are confident of vocational callings in ordained ministry, as teachers or听as听musicians.听Among the group of students who come to Houghton听typically听having recognized听early academic giftedness and ability are those preparing for careers in the health sciences.

Pre-health students听represent听a healthy听portion听of the Houghton student body. While their beds and clothes are in their residence hall rooms, many of them听spending听most of their waking听hours听(and some of their sleeping听hours!)听in the Paine Center for Science. As they matriculate,听more and more听of their coursework is taken in Paine, but outside of class, you听are听likely to find small groups of students in laboratories, faculty offices,听and听dedicated study spaces as well as improvised ones.

Houghton has long been recognized as a place for serious Christian students to study science and prepare for careers in the health sciences. There is no shortage of Houghton graduates who have gone on to听have听long and impactful听careers as medical doctors,听nurses听and medical missionaries.听Houghton continues to provide outstanding preparation for students who pursue nursing, D.O.听and听M.D degrees.

But additionally,听with robust partnerships with professional and graduate programs,听Houghton is preparing students for vocations in veterinary science, physical therapy, pharmacy, occupational therapy, nutrition and dietetics, dentistry, and athletic training.听As the Lord continues to call young people to vocations in the health sciences, Houghton continues to provide Christ-centered, rigorous preparation to equip them for that work.

With this issue, we are privileged to share some of the stories of our students, faculty, and alumni who have been a part of Houghton鈥檚 rich history in听the health听sciences. We are grateful to be a part of what God has done and continues to do in and through the lives of our graduates.

Yours in Christ鈥檚 service,

Wayne D.听Lewis,听Jr.
President