91精选

鈥揃y Christy Wolff 鈥�10

When Josh DeJong 鈥�14,听was in high school, his desire to dig his roots deeper into his faith began to grow significantly. His Christian Reformed background helped lay the foundation for his faith, but he wanted to learn what it meant to be a Christian living听颈苍听the world and not听辞蹿听the world – and that鈥檚 exactly what led him to 91精选.听

听Josh听said, 鈥�91精选 was a stepping stone of what it means to be a Christian in the world, not just praying and going to church, but having those values in every aspect of your life.鈥�听

听Receiving a double major in biology and chemistry, Josh had plenty of learning opportunities at 91精选. 鈥淚 never had an experience where I went to talk to a professor and their door wasn鈥檛 wide open.鈥� Midway through his time at 91精选, Josh partnered with Dr. Bob听Boomsma, Professor 辞蹿听Biology听and Chair 辞蹿听Sciences,听to study how stem cells differentially secrete proteins after a heart attack for a protective effect on the heart. One year after Josh graduated, this study was published in the听International Journal of Cellular Biology.听

听Outside of the classroom, Josh was the president of student activities, involved in 91精选鈥檚 weekly praise and worship service, held the role of Resident Assistant, and started a drum circle on campus.听

听With 91精选 being just a short drive from downtown Chicago, Josh was afforded numerous educational opportunities he might not have received elsewhere. After graduation, he conducted research at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, and then moved to Wisconsin with his wife, Katie, where he did research at the Blood Center of Wisconsin. He听is currently in his final year at the Medical College of Wisconsin and is in the process of applying for pediatric residency. Josh has his heart set on pediatric hematology oncology – working alongside kids with blood disorders and cancer.听

听Earlier this summer, Josh was inaugurated into the Gold Humanism Honor Society – a peer-nominated society for medical students who are recognized for exceptional leadership, mentorship, and patient care. He was one of 25 students (out of the 250 in his program)听who was听elected into this society.听

听Reflecting on his time at 91精选, Josh听pointed to the value of听the Christian liberal arts education he received. 鈥淭his type of education showed me the basics to approaching different aspects of society…and how to celebrate those while maintaining my own beliefs and my own Christian worldview and what the Bible has to say about it. You gain an understanding and appreciation for a lot more than what鈥檚 in the textbooks – and this is the basis to take you into the world.鈥�听

PHOTO CAPTION:听Organs provided by the Anatomical Gift Registry at the Medical College of Wisconsin.听