As a teenager, Jordan Terry watched his father lose his job as a builder and saw how his parents worked tirelessly to make ends meet and provide for their five children. That experience greatly affected him and pushed him to a career in medicine for its ability to provide financial and personal stability.
Now, as an aspiring emergency medicine physician at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Terry said he wants to be a source of stability for others, what he calls the “calm in the storm” for patients who seek help at the emergency department for illness or injury.
The support Terry and other students receive from WMed’s donors ensures they have the tools they need, and knowing there are people who support them and care about their financial needs pushes him to be the best he can be, he said.
“As medical students we have a lot of our own storms as well, not the least of which can be financial,” Terry said. “The donors to the school help us to stay focused on our education and help us to develop the tools we need when the day comes for us to be called on to help save or heal others.”
Terry spoke to nearly 100 employees of Greenleaf Trust and WMed at a 4:01 social event at the medical school’s W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus in downtown Kalamazoo. The event served as a celebration of Greenleaf Trust sponsoring a conference room on the first floor, and it gave Greenleaf staff a chance to learn more about WMed and get an up-close look at the medical school’s Simulation Center. Attendees heard from medical students how donor support has made a positive impact on their lives and education.
WMed Dean Dr. Paula M. Termuhlen raised a glass to toast Greenleaf Trust’s commitment to WMed, and then invited Greenleaf Trust’s Chief Financial Officer, Steve McKiddy, to speak. McKiddy has been a staunch supporter of WMed, having served as chairman of the Dean’s Circle Leadership Giving Society and as the fundraising chair for the White Coat Ceremony in September 2022. WMed recognized him as the inaugural WMed Philanthropy Volunteer of the Year at the medical school’s donor appreciation luncheon in November 2022.
“It’s very telling when you meet members of the medical school, how open and caring and how willing they are to share their story because they’re passionate about serving others,” McKiddy said. “That’s what makes me feel so great about our partnership. We also are very passionate about serving our clients, so we take that very near and dear to our hearts. We love seeing that passion come through from all of you, so thank you for having us here.”
McKiddy encouraged Greenleaf Trust employees to support WMed’s students, noting that a $500 donation can sponsor a white coat for an incoming medical student. That donation amount may seem minor, he said, but as people come together as a community to support WMed, they can accomplish remarkable things.
For first-year medical student Lauren Etzkorn, a relationship with her white coat sponsor has made her feel supported and more connected to her community. Her white coat sponsor, Susan Thoms, MD, is a retired ophthalmologist who has served as a role model for the aspiring first-generation physician. Etzkorn said Dr. Thoms has shared meals with her and invited her on social outings with other medical students she sponsors.
“The financial contribution is amazing, and it is so often the focus of these conversations, but I think the time and effort that you all give is incredibly appreciated,” said Etzkorn, who will be a first-generation physician. “She has shown me that it’s important to give where and how you can.”
Etzkorn said she appreciated the members of the community who invest in medical students to allow them to become future physicians, better students, and better people.
“We could study all day every day and still not know everything there is to know, so having people giving their time and effort to us makes us feel appreciated and makes us feel like what we’re doing is right,” Etzkorn said. “We’re able to do what we love to do, which is to give back.”