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Daniel T. Kaddar
Growing up around WVU, I have seen many aspects of this place that run counter to the stigma some people hold about the school. This university and its community offer unique opportunities, and for me, programs like the IMMB major and the Global Medical and Dental Brigades student organization. Being aware of opportunities like these is what kept me from leaving this great state for higher education. The Research 1 distinction that WVU holds makes it a spectacular choice for anyone in STEM. At the end of the day, no distant university can be prestigious enough to outweigh the value of pursuing my degree in the same place that is home to my family.
What is your favorite Mountaineer memory?
My favorite memory as a mountaineer is also simply one of my most incredible memories of life. Traveling to the Darién region of Panama with WVU’s chapter of Global Medd Dental Brigades over spring break of my freshman year is something I could not forget if I tried. Our one-of-a-kind student organization is intertwined in unconventional study abroad focused on the sociology of rural health and disparities. In the country, we facilitated medical and dental clinics, empowered communities through public health projects, collected field data on rural health, and ended each day with intellectual group reflections. Students learn what medicine is in rural, resource reduced regions in foreign countries that resemble many areas in Appalachia. I hold this organization close to my heart, as I am now an officer for our future brigades and have met some of the most amazing people I am privileged to call friends. Although I still want to pursue the medical field as I did when I entered college, I now have a transformed perspective on healthcare and how I can most ethically and sustainably practice medicine.
Why did you want to become a PSA?
Although many nominees do not know who put them up for the PSA application, my professor asked me if I would like to receive their nomination. An opportunity and a compliment coming from someone that I look up to in so many ways were more than enough motivation for me to become a PSA. There have been many PSAs in the history of the program that were nominated by my mentor, and those individuals are all people I strive to be like in my life. Through this program, I look forward to improving my public speaking and outreach skills, as well as representing President Benson and the university in such an honorable way.
What did you learn from the PSA experience?
I learned so much about the different offices and resources WVU has that I will now be able to utilize for myself and those I serve during my leadership positions. I learned that there is much more to public speaking than I originally thought.