NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
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Eighteen-year-old Timothy Walker sets his goals high — he plans to become a surgeon in the cardio-thoracic or neurological fields — and as the winner of the 2019 Reid Family Scholarship, he is closer to achieving them.
Inspired by his youth group leader and Chief of Emergency Medicine at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, Dr. Aaron Barnett, Walker wants to help others the way his mentor does. “It was only after I was able to see the lasting impacts [Dr. Barnett] was able to make in people’s lives that I understood why he works himself so hard,” said Timothy. “Although I can’t help people as a physician yet, I regularly volunteer at church outreach programs and camps.”
On top of the work with his church, Walker achieved an average of 96% while leading Orillia Secondary School’s Christian Group, playing rugby and competing in math competitions. He is set to begin his first year of post-secondary in the Kinesiology program at McMaster University in Hamilton this September.
Dr. Aaron Barnett thinks Timothy’s got the winning combination to go far in medicine. “I’ve seen Timothy grow over the last four years. He’s active in the community, he is dedicated to helping others and he is gifted academically,” said Dr. Barnett. “He’s generous with his time and this strong combination is good to see.”
“Ultimately, Timothy’s determination to better the lives of others is why he was the successful candidate for this scholarship,” said Mark Riczu, Executive Director of the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation. “We hope the support he receives through the Reid Family Scholarship will inspire him to return to the community he’s so passionately part of when he’s finished his medical training.”
The $2,000 Reid Family Scholarship was started in 2005 through the generosity of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Reid of Oro Station, for students in Orillia and area entering into a field of health study in a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution. The scholarship program is intended to assist the Hospital in recruiting new healthcare professionals, while at the same time assisting deserving students in their education.
About Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital Foundation
The OSMH Foundation is a proud partner of Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital and the people of Orillia and North Simcoe/Muskoka. The foundation provides funds to the hospital to buy medical equipment, sustain programs and assist the hospital in maintaining its position as a leader in providing quality community-based healthcare.
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