MARIAN A N EWSLETTER
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Matters
M ARIAN C ATHOLIC A LUMNI , PARENTS AND F RIENDS . . . B ECAUSE M ARIAN C ATHOLIC R EALLY D OES M ATTER SPRING 2006
BENDRICK '80 INFLUENTIAL ON NASA MEDIC AL RESEARCH
Gregg Bendrick ’80
With such a strong fundamental educational base, Marian Catholic alumni have many success stories in their professional careers. However, few span the infinite distance of 1980 graduate Gregg Bendrick, M.D. whose travels have included several major U.S. cities and a four-year stint as an Emergency Medical Physician in Japan. As a civil servant with NASA, his work extends beyond the planet, returning to impact many on earth in regard to medicine. As the Medical Director of the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Bendrick serves as the designated Flight Surgeon performing flight physicals on NASA test pilots. He is also the Emergency Medical Services Coordinator for the Space Shuttle when circumstances mandate a landing at Edwards AFB. In one of his most intriguing experiences, Bendrick handled the Return-To-Flight Space Shuttle (STS-114) when it landed at Edwards. This landing was the first flight after the Columbia tragedy and had problems that it had to overcome on its own flight. Because there was also a Japanese crew member on this flight, Bendrick had a great deal of interaction with a Flight Surgeon from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. Along with handling post-flight physicals, Bendrick coordinated efforts with several entities before, during, and after landing. He communicated with the Johnson Space Center in Houston, the
Department of Defense Flight Surgeon in Florida and several local hospitals and emergency response forces. As the Shuttle was prepared to be flown back to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Bendrick moved to the Post-Flight Science Support Facility where astronauts undergo their post-physical exams. Then he focused his attention on the "Orbiter Turn-Around" operations, where the maintenance crews clean out the Shuttle vehicle and empty all the various rocket fuels. “This turnaround operation was among the most interesting things I've done here," Bendrick explained. Bendrick has certainly done some interesting things. Following his education and medical school at University of Chicago, he entered active duty with the Air Force for nine years and was stationed in Japan, San Antonio, TX and Shreveport, LA. After separating from the Air Force, he worked at the Oschner Clinic in New Orleans. While Marian Catholic has yet to send a graduate into space, Bendrick's work is certainly as important. As Bendrick talks about his alma mater, it sounds as if the preparation created limitless opportunities. "Marian provided me the moral compass by which I could maintain my heading in life," Bendrick recalled. "Were it not for my faith, I would not have pursued a career in medicine or civil service with the government. There are many secular influences that try to lead people in many directions away from God. Marian Catholic provides the moral compass and the skills necessary for young people to make those critical choices that will set the path for the rest of their lives. "The academic excellence of Marian enabled me to become a lifelong learner. Education at the high school level has to go beyond the mere conveyance of facts that will be obsolete in ten years. Education really has to develop the skills of logical and critical thought in order for students to become life-long learners. Frankly, the voice and direction that a Catholic high school like Marian provides is absolutely vital in the development of life-long learners." While Bendrick already possesses a lifetime of experiences in helping others, he remains ambitious with lofty goals. "One of the historians and I want to write a book that looks at the human factors associated with some of the mishaps and close calls throughout the history of the Dryden Flight Research Center," Bendrick explained. There were a number of human factors to consider, and we'd like to get some of these lessons learned down in writing so other folks don't make the same mistakes."
2006 Hall of Fame Awardees This year's honorees enjoyed the Hall of Fame Awards Dinner at Olympia Fields Country Club on February 22. From left to right: Shannon Reidy ’90 Athlete of the Year, Alex Panio ’62 Alumnus of the Year, Norm Bates Spirit of Marian, Sr. Margaret Rose Aultz Lifetime Achievement and Bernie Jablonski Fine Arts Distinguished Achievement.