As a graduating International Rescue and Relief and Biomedical Science double major, Gideon Logan’s time at Union offered him countless adventures. When first starting college, Logan planned on becoming an ecologist. Around the time he realized a career in habitat restoration would actually keep him in an office, he started taking IRR’s EMT class. While in the class, Logan recalls being left with a lot of questions. He was learning how to treat a variety of issues, but he wasn’t learning the root causes. His curiosity drew him to rethinking his path and deciding to become a doctor.

During the IRR expedition in Malawi last year, he gained valuable first-hand experiences that confirmed his calling as a physician. “I did more than 100 hours of shadowing in clinical rotations,” Logan said. “I got to scrub in to assist with surgery. I had my first experience doing CPR on someone. I got to suture. I even delivered a couple babies … there’s a little boy in Mozambique named ‘Gideon’ after me. It was a really good experience.”

When talking with Logan, his desire to be a compassionate person is apparent. Whether it’s to be a listening ear or someone who offers wisdom-filled advice, Gideon’s primary goal is to be authentic and build real connections with people. Savannah Fortney, Logan’s fiancé, said, “When he worked as an EMT, he was known for not just getting the patient from point A to point B, but taking the time to hear their story and to get to know them even in a short ambulance ride. One thing that is pushing him to pursue this career path is the continued opportunity to get to know people who are hurting. He wants to be able to form relationships and trust with those that he interacts with.”