Committed to Learning - Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine ...

School of MedicineClass Noteshowever. Procop considered becoming a scienceteacher like the ones who influenced him. It wasa friend in a chemistry class and her husband,a urologist, who got him interested in medicalschool, followed by pathology training. “I tooktheir advice, and I’m glad I did,” Procop said. “Asit turns out, I believe the solid medical training Iobtained at Marshall afforded me the foundationto concentrate on the study of disease at DukeUniversity. Striving to understand the entireprocess of infection is the only way of looking atit, in my opinion.”Procop was attracted to Marshall for anumber of reasons, including small class size andthe excellent professor-to-student ratio. “Thisenables thorough understanding of the material,rather than just memorization,” he said. “That’swhat you really want in a physician, someone whotruly understands the disease process, rather thansomeone who was good at memorizing a lot offacts. I remember vividly not understanding thefunctioning of one of the extraocular muscles, soI approached Dr. Mitchell L. Berk after class andhe quickly clarified the process. It is not as easy toget that in a school with a large class size.“Three professors stand out in my experienceat Marshall” he added. “Doctors Patrick Brownand Terry Fenger, although not my officialadvisors, have provided friendship, guidanceand opportunity for which I am forever in debt.Dr. Bryan Larsen was my senior professor for mymaster’s degree, and in addition to guidance,he afforded me the opportunity to work in hislaboratory where I developed many valuableskills. Also, because I was a little different andinterested in some of the basic sciences taught inthe first two years, I was pleased to find an activelyengaged basic science faculty who afforded methe opportunity to explore these areas morethoroughly.”Procop took time to enjoy leisure activitieswhile at Marshall. “There are numerouswonderful memories,” he said. “These includeattending tailgate parties hosted by the medicalschool prior to a Marshall football game at theold stadium, participating in Research Day and,again, the numerous interpersonal interactionswith the faculty and fellow students.”Today, his lovely family keeps him busy withhome-related activities. He also enjoys reading,woodworking and sailing.When asked to offer one piece of advice tocurrent and future medical students, he replied,“Follow your heart. Identify the area of medicinethat excites you most and dedicate yourself tothorough study of that area.”Jeffrey T. St. Clair, Class of1992, has been selected for theMarshall University AlumniAssociation CommunityAchievement Award for2008. He accepted the honorat the Association’s AlumniBanquet in April. Jeffreyis assistant clinical instructor in emergencymedicine at New Orleans’ Charity Hospital,part of the Louisiana State University HealthSciences Center.Timothy G. Cook, Class of1994, is deployed with theU.S. Army 325th CombatSupport Hospital at CampSpeicher, Tikrit, Iraq, as anemergency room provider insupport of Operation IraqiFreedom. He was active dutyin the Army as a family physician until 2000,when he resigned and purchased a small, busy,walk-in clinic, Convenient Medical Care, inRutland, Vt. He did this primarily to be near hisparents, both in their eighties. Then in January2007, after watching President George Bushmake the case for his surge strategy, he decided tosign back up as an Army reserve medical officer,with the specific request to be mobilized to Iraq.