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Dr.
Dana Crumley, Pharmacist 1995 –
BS Zoology, UW-Madison I learned that hard work and persistence are very important. I also learned that sometimes you just have to relax and let things go.
Abraham Sunshine,
MD, Physician –
clinical pharmacology 1948
– BA, UW-Madison
1950 – BS
Zoology, UW-Madison I was accepted at Marquette University while in my Junior year at UW. A role model was a family member who was a physician. While a student, I selected courses in the dept of zoology that would assist my future years in medical school i.e. Anatomy, comparative anatomy, histology, embryology, endocrinology, etc. All of which were taught by excellent faculty, including Dr. Noland who could sketch with both hands at once – unforgettable!! Medical school began in 1950 and I felt was more relevant because of my training in the Dept of Zoology. The clinical years were challenging. Experiencing caring for diseases I had never heard of in my fellow humans, and too often death! I did graduate as a doctor of medicine second in my class! My wife is a graduate of UW Nursing school (1951), as was my daughter later. I am further blessed because my youngest daughter attended UW Medical School and now is a practicing Radiologist and mother!
David R Farley,
MD, General Surgeon 1982
– BS Zoology,
UW-Madison I did nine months of volunteer work with my uncle (a general surgeon) as a UW undergrad and have never looked back. Richard M Shore, M.D., Asst. Professor of Radiology Kathleen M Kadow,
Pediatrician 1990
– BS Zoology,
UW-Madison There is no “secret recipe” – at least that I’ve found! I enjoyed my time at Madison and wish that I could have realized at that time how many tremendous teachers there were and are. I am now getting to the point where I am the “teacher”, and it is much more difficult than I anticipated. Biocore, as I recall, especially focused on the student-teacher relationship. It is not so much what you are learning/teaching, more importantly it is how you are teaching/learning. And the skills you are acquiring. These skills of BOTH learning and teaching will serve you well in whatever career path you choose. 1992 –
B? Zoology, UW-Madison Northwestern University Medical School and Children’s Memorial Hospital 1971 –
BS Zoology, UW-Madison Michail A Volz,
M.D. Physician –
allergy, asthma
and immunology 1980 –
BS Zoology, UW-Madison Robert Palmer, DO, Physician 1991 –
BS Zoology, UW-Madison After graduating from UW, I worked in a physician’s office at the lowest level, gradually working my way up to clinical research coordinator. Along the way, I took post-baccalaureate classes in science (pathobiology specifically) while applying for medical school. It was a physician-employer who told me about osteopathy and suggested I learn more. This opened up a whole side of medicine which is largely unknown to most. The dept of zoology and the many energetic instructors with whom I worked clearly had an impact on my career, mainly in fostering an inquisitiveness that persists in me today. Emily Barrows, PA-C, Physician Assistant in Dermatology 1994
– BS Zoology,
UW-Madison I did lots of volunteer work at Meriter Hospital and UW Hospital in Madison during my undergrad years. After graduation, I worked at the UW Dept of Genetics while I applied to physician assistant school. I think the volunteer work was a critical part of my acceptance to PA school. I was lucky to be accepted the same year I applied. If students are “pre-health profession” at all, I would not only recommend volunteer work, but a variety of it as well. I split my hours in pediatrics, ER, physical therapy, etc. It was time well spent! After graduation, I practiced as a Physician Assistant in Internal Medicine for 2 years, and now I’ve been in Dermatology for nearly a year. It was a great career choice, and I highly recommend it. T here’s lots of flexibility and opportunity. Needless to say, my zoology degree provided me the foundation I needed! Scott R Singel,
Flight Nurse Pegasus
Flight Opes.
For me, the Recombinant DNA lab in Cellular Biology validated the mechanics of the theory of evolution. Genetic material assembled in random combinations produced included a combination that was congruent with survival in the environment that we provided. In a sense, evolution in a test tube. Knowledge of physiology and anatomy are useful on a daily basis. However, my knowledge of chemistry, genetics and cellular biology is especially useful in teaching the why of pathophysiologies. For example, I have compiled a lecture on shock that I have presented many times to conferences including pre-hospital personnel. By extending the effects of the perfusion defecit to the mitochondria, I can explain the shift to anaerobic metabolism that evolves as a systemic acidosis. I believe that understanding the why makes it easier to remember the what and how. Biochemistry, population biology, even physiological psychology have all been useful in learning and teaching the concepts of nursing, human pathophysiology and medicine. To be honest, I was not an especially great zoology student. I started graduate studies in biology at the University of Virginia and discovered two things. An appreciation for the undergraduate program at UW and that I was pretty average at graduate biology. I did not really like being alone so much, in the library, in the lab, studying. I knew that average was not good enough to succeed in academics, so after talking to Oscar Miller, the dept. head, about it I enrolled in nursing school as their first 2nd degree student. It has gone pretty well since and I will always appreciate what the UW Dept of Zoology gave to me. Thank You! For some reason, I had a terrible time in comparative anatomy and organic chemistry. I just am not good at rote memory. Since graduating from Wisconsin in 1977, I have taken coursework in both with great success. In organic chemistry, the key was simply learning a bookkeeping technique called “electron pushing”. After that, organic chemistry made complete sense. Perhaps this approach would work with other students. Dr.
Donald F. Prehn,
Dentist (retired)
I used the education I received in getting my BS in Zoology at UW-Madison as the excellent foundation in subsequently attaining my dental degree. I have always appreciated that my undergraduate experience had enough flexibility in electives to allow me courses for a well-rounded education beyond my degree requirements that intense post-graduate education could not permit. Being the second of three generations of University of Wisconsin graduates who have post-graduate degrees in the medical field, I can attest for all of them the value of our University of Wisconsin experience. During my career in dentistry, I have always been active in the community. Besides professional organizations, I have been active in boy scouts (from Scout Master to Council President), promoted community by belonging to Chamber of Commerce and Central Wausau Progress, Advisory Board to the University of Wisconsin Marathon Center, Performing Arts Foundation supporter, my church and other organizations. Even in retirement Ienjoy serving on Boards such as the Marathon County Historical Society (Vice-President), Pine Grove Cemetery Board, and membership in American Legion to name a few. Community service gives back to my community what it has given to me. 1973
– BS Zoology,
UW-Madison I had applied to 8 medical schools during my senior year of UW. Having not heard by Christmas a friend at Marquette encouraged me to apply to Marquette’s Dental School. I was accepted there within the month. Peter J. Sheild, DDS, Dentist 1981
– BA Zoology,
UW-Madison My experience in the Zoology department was the foundation on which my dental career was built. It provided me an opportunity to problem solve, interact with other students, and be challenged academically. I remember the faculty and staff as being patient, willing to offer help and assistance, and dedicated to bringing out the best in their students. The diverse curriculum aided me in my dental school years and I felt well-prepared because of my course load within the zoology department. Thanks.
1939 –
BA Zoology, UW-Madison Shawn
Hook, Veterinarian 1995
– Zoology,
UW-Madison I basically just rode it out. After graduation it took some time to make the transition from school to my career. At first it still felt like I should be going to school each morning. Performing my career was a scary thing to do alone vs. having a prof/doctor watching over your shoulder all the time. Eventually it was great to be calling the shots on your own, but it was a great responsibility as well. Madison and the university taught the core of what I am as a professional. Of course I always continue to learn through experience and continuing education. So as far as how I made the transition, like I said, I just rode it out. I do not know if this was the answer you were looking for, but it is my response. Thanks.
1995
– BS Zoology,
UW-Madison Immediately after receiving my BS degree in Zoology I returned home to look for work. At first I waitressed, just to pay the bills as I searched. I soon made contact at this job to take a part-time job also at a pet store. I needed “hands-on” experience with animals if I wanted to work near animals in the future. I wasn’t much into being a salesperson, but I learned a lot about exotic birds during the nine months at the pet store. I soon received a job as an Animal Care Technician at the Wisconsin Humane Society. I planned on this being temporary. However, after a year, where I learned a lot about cat, dog and small animal behavior through experience, training at work and conferences, I was starting to feel domestic animals was where I wanted to be as far as my work. I was promoted to Dog Evaluation Coordinator, where I learned even more about dog behavior and training. After another year, I started work as an Adoption Counselor. I have been with the Wisconsin Humane Society for 4 years now. I work with animals and potential adopters to make good “matches”. I love my job, and I still find I learn more about animals everyday I work. My advice is to always be open to learn more!! Absorb any information you get and apply it. Working with animals daily is a reward in and of itself. Gabriel S. Gross,
Attorney 1998
– BS Zoology,
UW-Madison Leaving an undergraduate science curriculum for law school was a sudden and somewhat unexpected change. Nonetheless, I have found my biology background particularly useful, mainly in the field of intellectual property law. My science background has helped me stand out in a field dominated by former humanities students, and has been a tremendous asset. I’d enjoy the opportunity to discuss non-science career paths with interested undergrads. 1992
– BS Zoology,
UW-Madison Upon graduating with a degree in Zoology, I interned as a naturalist at Trees for Tomorrow Natural Resources Center. That internship led to full-time employment as a staff naturalist and editor of a natural resources newspaper. I eventually became more interested in the legal perspective on environmental issues and decided to go to law school. I now work on a variety of legal issues, including the areas of forestry and water resources, land use planning and zoning. I highly recommend an internship, either while still a student or post-grad. I would also encourage students not to shy away from seasonal work, if the experience will be a means to an ultimate goal. I anticipate I am not the typical “Zoology” grad. However, my training in the sciences is an ever-present aid in my chosen field. In addition, living in Northern Wisconsin, I regularly get out on the water and use the observation skills I honed in my ecology classes. Birding remains my passion!
I am at the end of a career and will be retiring soon from academia. Rule 1 – Stay nosy. Ask questions. Lots of questions. Rule 2 – Take chances. I guarantee you will crash and burn some of the time, but not all of the time. Rule 3 – For godsake if you are not enjoying what you are doing – do something else! Rule 4 – Whatever you do, do it as best you can. Be passionate about what you do. Rule 5 – Ignore the carping critics. They will always be with you, but they’re not worth a second of your valuable time.
Joel D Oppenheim,
Associate Dean for
Graduate Studies 1965 –
BS Zoology, UW-Madison Dr. Eugene R.
Katz, Professor,
Dept of Molecular
Genetics and Microbiology,
and Associate
Dean, College of
Arts and Sciences
SUNY at Stony Brook 1962 –
BS Zoology, UW-Madison Dr. Joy Nystrom
Mast, Professor
of Biogeography 1989 –
BS Zoology/Geography,
UW-Madison By working on a undergraduate honors degree in zoology (and geography), I was able to design and implement original research working with individual faculty (Dr. Ed Beales and Dr Tom Vale). This year-long experience allowed focused attention with UW faculty and an opportunity to experience field work, data analysis, and scientific write-up of results. The Honors Program was a great preparation for graduate school, as well as professional exposure to zoology and the department’s excellent faculty.
Nina Stromgren
Allen, Professor
of Botany
Director
of Cellular and
Milecular Imaging
Facility 1957 –
BS Zoology, UW-Madison I believe I have done that before. I want to report that Robert Jackson Williams, BS 1953, MS 1959 (John Emlen), died October 1999 in Bethesda, Md. His career was spent as a cryobiologist – except for the hears he worked for Dept of Botany, UW-Madison as a photographer. Bob worked for the American Red Cross for many years. He leaves Erik R Williams and Harriet Dudley –born in Madison and Kelsey Ballantine. PS. I was married to Bob Williams from 1958-1970.
1989
– BS Zoology,
UW-Madison Following graduation from Madison I moved to East Lansing, MI to pursue graduate studies in anatomy and or fisheries. Worked for Michigan State University fisheries department for a few months. Ended up with a Lab Tech job at Neogen Corporation, Lansing, MI. Worked for 2 years as a Biotech Lab Researcher. Went back to school, Northern Michigan University, to get teacher certification. Now certified in Biology and chemistry. While at Madison, I followed in two older brothers’ footsteps and took comparative anatomy with Dr. William Burns. Dr. Burns is by far the best teacher I have ever had. His attention to detail was amazing. As he would often say in “Burns words or no words.” I became an undergraduate TA for Dr. Burns as were my two older brothers, and that experience teaching eventually led me to pursue a teaching degree. The university needs more professors like Dr. Burns, those who take pride in their ability to teach as well as do research. 1946 –
BA, Smith College/UW-Madison 1948
– BA, UW-Madison Before World War II I was an L&S student with the intention of becoming a teacher, so I had a few credits in the school of Education plus those in zoology and botany. In July of ’41 I became an infantryman in the military. An opportunity came to take a test to transfer to the Air Corps, and go to school to become a pilot, navigator, or bombardier. I passed the test and attended both bombardier and navigation school, earned a commission, and served as the navigator on a B-17, flying out of Africa and Italy. At the conclusion of the war, I returned to the university to take advantage of the 54 months of schooling I was entitled to for having served 4 ½ years in the military. Therefore, I had plenty of time to sample a variety of zoological and botanical offerings. So many in fact that I accumulated so many credits that I was close to satisfying the requirements for a MA. Dr Noland, bless his soul, advised me to stay on at the University to pursue my MA in Zoo and complete the credits needed for a teacher’s certificate. In the process, I learned wonderful lessons from people like Aldo Leopold, James Crow, John Lilly and others on what a good teacher is. In addition, I was blessed with many intangibles that help one to relate to students and make them want to do well. Even to this day, twenty plus years after my retirement, I am asked to attend their class reunions, receive letters and pictures telling and showing events in their lives, and telling me that my influence played a major role in their selection of a career. I had numerous offerings of jobs that paid a great deal more than teaching, but I’m glad that I stayed in the classroom. I think I used my life to make a positive difference in the lives of a multitude of young people, gained many friends, and have lots of wonderful memories. One in particular comes to mind. A potential drop out, to whom I gave a “second chance” – on graduation night as he walked across the stage, came over to me, gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, “If it wasn’t for you, Mr Antonie, I wouldn’t be here tonight.” – Sorry this is so long. I do want to thank the Zoology Dept for offering such a diverse course offerings, so that guys like me could become well trained to teach our young people Ruth
L Hine, retired 1944 –
BA, Connecticut
College
1985
– BA Biological
Sciences, Indiana
University A postdoc at USGS Lab writing a government report led to another USGS postdoc working on amphibian monitoring, which led to a full-time position continuing amphibian research and monitoring. Allison Fraser,
Environmental Consultant Catherine H.
Ream, Consultant
for outdoor recreation
and Owner 1960 –
BS, UW-Madison I feel very fortunate to have gotten a very strong Zoology/Ecology background from some of the best instructors at U of WI Madison in the 1960’s. Dr.
Thomas F Hartman 1957
– Psychology/Zoology,
UW-Madison Tom died May 27, 1988 Wendy Istvanick,
Systems Architech/Consultant 1988 –
Zoology, UW-Madison When I first graduated, I went immediately to graduate school. Between the fact that I needed a break from school and I was bored because some of my classes were very repetitive of what I had already learned at Wisconsin, I decided to leave after 1 semester. I came back to Madison and took a lab tech position in a Toxicology lab. The work was interesting but I needed more and was not sure about working with nasty chemicals and radioactivity long term. Since part of my job had been analyzing lots of lab data and since I had taken some undergraduate computer classes, I decided to apply to graduate school in Computer Sciences. It was a great decision as 1 yr. After getting my masters, I took a position with my current company. I have been there more than five years and don’t plan on leaving. This is almost unheard of in the computer profession. Although my career does not involve much of the specifics I learned in Zoology, I feel it gave me a good foundation and added to my appreciation of life in general. Plus, it really taught me how to think, which is the most important thing to learn in school. As a matter of fact, just today I met another BioCore alum and we reminisced about sorting Macaroni. I guess in summary I would say learn to think and don’t be afraid of changing careers either right out of school or down the road. Michael Oakes,
Artistic Director,
Actor 1984 –
Zoology/Psychology,
UW-Madison Do what your heart most longs to do. Do not feel trapped by your degree field. Kathryn Krueger – retired Endangered Species Biologist, Now student of veterinary medicine 1991 – BS Zoology, UW-Madison Frederick Langheim,
MD/PhD Student 19?? –
BS Zoology/English,
UW-Madison Following my interests paid off. There are remarkable under-publicized post-undergraduate research opportunities at the NIH. Sarah A Hopfensperger, Graduate Student 1998
– BS Zoology,
UW-Madison Well, I can’t necessarily say I’m experiencing huge amounts of success right now, but I’m well on my way. After graduating with a BS degree in Zoology at the UW in 1998, I am a 2nd year graduate student in Marine Biology at the University of Charleston, SC. I hold the Limnology department and it’s faculty partially responsible for cultivating in me a love for aquatic ecosystems and their inhabitants. Although the local resources are obviously only freshwater, the department’s coursework nonetheless prepared me well for my current adventured in the marine world. Ecology of Fishes, Marine Biology, Invertebrate Zoology, Ecology, Ethology, and Genetics were just a few of these courses. The Zoology Department and Center for Limnology are lucky to have John Magnuson, Jim Kitchell, Stan Dodson, Steve Carpenter, Monica Turner, and Emily Stanley working for them – and the students are even luckier! Terakeith Lertsburapa,
Masters Student
Gina Marie Piscitelli, Graduate Student in Neuroscience 1991
– Zoology,
UW-Madison Well, quite honestly, I’m not so successful. I worked in academic positions at UW-Madison for six years after I graduated. Lab research and administration. From this experience, I would suggest trying to get a job in the private sector after a few years. Academic staff positions did provide me with a few great opportunities though. I also suggest taking advantage of as many opportunities for research and field work as you can. Finding out what you like the most and what you want to do is the most important thing for you to do as an undergraduate. Trying as many specific things as you can in a broad field like Zoology will help you aim you job search to the right/appropriate areas. |
