The seven incoming freshmen will make up the first group to matriculate directly into Wabash College’s Global Health Initiative (GHI).
Ryan Bartley, Vitor Ferrari, Hugh Ford, Zane Huber, Khushnood Ochilov, Jonathan Palacattu and Gino Park were selected from a competitive field of applicants to make up this inaugural class, which represents three countries and three states.
“We are excited to welcome these students to Wabash College with their interest in global public health and the opportunities our program offers,” said Eric Wetzel, professor of biology and director of the Global Health Initiative. “Not only will they be involved in GHI activities on and off campus, but they will also be in a strong position to consider a relatively new global health minor. We appreciate the support from the college as we take this next step in the program and hope this will encourage other students to expand their participation.”
The program allows first-year students immediate exposure to GHI, Wabash’s extracurricular program for students interested in global public health, and direct-entered students are guaranteed a global health immersive travel experience to Peru, South America, as part of a global health class, as well as a summer internship in public health after their first or second year.
The Direct Admission Program is supported by the Korisek Health Innovation Fund.
A native of Carmel, Indiana, Bartley discovered his passion for global health while studying Biomedical Sciences at PLTW. He is a member of the Carmel Ambassadors and served as president of the League of Christian Athletes at Carmel High School. He enjoys sports, the outdoors, and is committed to physical and mental health.
A native of Santa Maria, Brazil, Ferrari has founded several organizations aimed at improving the local community, including “Composition of Action,” which provides mental health circles for young students, “In Pursuit of Action,” which raises donations to make a positive impact on trash collectors and homeless communities, and “SmartSTEM Institute,” which provides young students with hands-on experience and career counseling in science, engineering, technology and mathematics.
A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ford plans to major in Biology and Spanish and will be inducting into the Little Giant track and field team and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He plays piano and guitar and enjoys the outdoors.
A native of Greencastle, Indiana, Huber plans to major in pre-medical studies and minor in global health and hopes to compete on Wabash College’s golf and swim teams.
A native of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Ochilov has immersed himself in a variety of experiences, including organizing his hometown’s first TEDx event, participating in an international exchange program to study in Arizona for a year, and volunteering at a cancer center in his hometown.
A native of Greenwood, Indiana, Palakattu attended Center Grove High School where she participated in choir, taekwondo and volunteer work. She enjoys tennis, hanging out with friends, listening to music and reading. She plans to attend Wabash College to study neuroscience and biology before moving on to medicine.
Park, originally from Graham, North Carolina, attended Southern Alamance High School. The son of missionaries in the Philippines, Park learned to serve others through his parents’ example. One of the activities that had a big impact on him was his involvement in a project to make fire extinguishers for a village where house fires were common.
The GHI direct entry program is designed for students with a strong interest in community health and the many factors that determine it. The program offers students community engagement, leadership opportunities, and the chance to learn from world-class public health experts in local and international contexts.
“The highlight of my job is working with students who want to make the world a better place, and these thoughtful, motivated young people have already achieved that,” said Jill Rogers, pre-med course advisor and GHI program coordinator. “Bringing together students with such a wide range of experiences feels like a true liberal arts moment. I’m grateful to the Korisek Innovation Fund for making the GHI Direct Entry program possible.”
Benefits of the program include the opportunity to interact with other community-minded students early in your undergraduate career; gaining important skills that employers, medical schools, and graduate schools look for in applicants; and learning about the social and environmental determinants of health and contributing to addressing health disparities in your local, regional, and global communities.