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CU GRADUATE HEADS TO AFRICA WITH PEACE
CORPS AS PART OF PASSION TO
IMPROVE GLOBAL
HEALTH
Before applying
to medical schools, University of
Colorado at Boulder graduate Nick
Breitnauer is taking a two-year hiatus
to teach in sub-Saharan Africa with the
Peace Corps.
"One major
inspiration to serve is that it is a
very real, powerful way to serve the
community in which I'm placed," said
Breitnauer, who graduated May 8 with
bachelor's degrees in molecular,
cellular and developmental biology and
psychology. "I truly believe I can
improve the quality of life of those I
will be teaching."
He will leave
this November to join a corps of fellow
volunteers and begin training. During
his service, Breitnauer will direct a
class in secondary biology,
incorporating concepts of health and
environmental education as well as
promoting school and community
involvement. He also will take on a
self-directed project where he plans to
work in various health centers across
the region.
"I am excited
about understanding much better what it
would look like for me to work as a
doctor internationally," Breitnauer
said. "More specifically, I don't just
want to be another volunteer for
international medical foundations, but I
want to work tirelessly at real,
systemic changes in international
health."
Part of his
motivation for working on these changes
in Africa, Breitnauer explained, came
about from a previous volunteer trip he
took to a township in Cape Town, South
Africa. "I loved the culture," said
Breitnauer, who directed a camp there
and also spent a year teaching English
in China.
He learned
during his visit that 30 to 50 percent
of the children of the township were HIV
positive.
"I was
completely captivated by the smiles upon
the faces of the children, constantly
glowing in the face of hardship," he
said. "It became very clear to me that
the hope within these children was
something special. Their joy shone
through the darkness of an epidemic.
From that moment, my heart was
captivated by the African people and I
remain driven to be a change agent in
the face of this enormous battle for
global health."
Breitnauer's
background in leadership will assist his
efforts to make an impact through his
service. In addition to being in the
Presidents Leadership Class, he also is
one of two recipients, statewide, of the
Colorado Leadership Alliance Student
Leader of the Year award.
This honor,
presented by 9News, the Boettcher
Foundation and the Denver Metro Chamber
of Commerce and other organizations, was
created to recognize students who
demonstrate extraordinary support of
their campus leadership programs,
exceptional service to their community,
and outstanding character and personal
resilience.
"Nick leads with
integrity and compassion," said Barbara
Volpe, executive director of the
Presidents Leadership Class. "He leads
by connecting to others and drawing out
their strengths. That is a quality not
many people possess."
Contact: Nick
Breitnauer,
nicholas.breitnauer@colorado.edu
Dani Rodriguez,
720-217-5129 May 13, 2009
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