THE CREIGHTONIAN
4 News
16 September 2011
Creighton alumnus receives high honor JOSIE BUNGERT News Reporter A 1976 Creighton Medical School graduate, who failed his first anatomy test, was presented with the 2011 Alumni Merit Award from the Creighton University School of Medicine. Dr. Eric A. Yancy, M.D. was born in segregated Baton Rouge, La. Yancy knew at an early age that he wanted to become a doctor. “Medical care was at a premium,” Yancy said. “You couldn’t just go to a physician. There were only a couple of black doctors in town, only a couple others that would see black patients.” One specific experience was when Yancy was a young boy sitting in a waiting room waiting to be seen, and there was a cap on the amount of people able to go inside. There was a woman and her baby outside the doctor’s office who did not get to see the doctor. “I thought to myself, ‘What if that baby is really sick?’ ” Yancy said. “I remember my father saying, ‘When you grow up, you can be a doctor and take care of babies like that.’ That was my start at wanting to be a physician. All I ever seriously wanted to be was a pediatrician.” Yancy knew he had to work hard, and immediately began reading his older siblings’ biology books as they helped him with science classes. With both parents being teachers, he
knew education was important, and worked hard to get to his goal of being a doctor. “Grades were always important,” Yancy said. “If we didn’t get them, Mother wanted to know why.” Yancy completed high school after finishing his junior year, and then went to Southern University for his undergrad at 16. Walking out of his history class one day, he ran into a gentleman that said he was a recruiter for Creighton University Medical School. They talked, Yancy applied, and after being placed as an alternate he was accepted at 19. “Hardest academic year of anything I have ever undergone. Certainly college was challenging, but med school was beyond challenging,” Yancy said. “My first test was anatomy, and I failed it miserably. My professor, in true Creighton tradition, was truly interested in what was going on for me as a student. He called me in to his office and said here is your grade, but this is how you can fix it. It was a part of that great Jesuit caring spirit.” After leaving medical school, Yancy applied to multiple hospitals and eventually found himself at Indiana University, James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Although it was challenging being the first and only African-American resident there, Yancy was able to achieve the role of chief resident by
Jaywalk
Saturday, Sept. 17, 9:00 a.m. Deglman Circle Here’s a look at what’s happening this week:
Family Weekend Friday, Sept. 16 Sunday, Sept. 18
Volleyball - Creighton Classic
Friday, Sept. 16- Saturday Sept. 17 D. J. Sokol Arena
his third year. This gave him a chance to work with high-risk cases. “After completing the residency, I got a chance to do what I always wanted to do,” Yancy said. “I purchased a little building and it didn’t take long to get things going because the area was underserved.” Along with his own practice, Yancy said he finds himself very busy and constantly working toward the Jesuit tradition. “The Alumni Merit Award has to do with continuing to try and exhibit the Creighton mission, trying to serve the community, and serve mankind,” Yancy said. “Academics is not all of it. It’s what you try to accomplish for humanity.” Yancy works with a religious-based community theater, where he plays Pontius Pilate in the passion musical every year, and is an assistant scoutmaster. He also recorded a CD that was released in 2009. “It is a cry for us to return to our normal, faith-based roots,” Yancy said. “Keeps me kind of busy.” Dr. Richard Schreiner, one of his former bosses and colleagues, nominated Yancy for this award. Yancy came out to Omaha from Indianapolis this past weekend to receive his award.
Homecoming Week Monday, Sept. 19 Saturday, Sept. 24
Mr. and Mrs. Bluejay Pageant
Tuesday, Sept. 20, 7:00 p.m. Skutt Student Center Ballroom
Yancy received the 2011 Alumni Merit Award last weekend. Photo courtesy of Creighton University.
“My biggest values are my faith,” Yancy said. “I think God calls us to do something more than ourselves. If I am given something, it needs to be shared; it is not all for me. One of the biggest core values I live by.”
Career Cram Session
Wednesday, Sept. 21 5:30 p.m. Harper Center Suite 2015
Army JAG Corps Information session Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011 Law School, Room 122
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