WHEELING, WV, Sept. 29, 2009 — Dr. Gregory S. Merrick, internationally recognized prostate cancer specialist and executive director of Wheeling Hospital’s Urologic Research Institute (URI), and Wheeling Jesuit University (WJU) Interim President Davitt McAteer, announced today that Je Young Park is the 2009 recipient of the Jacober Scholarship.
A native of Seoul, South Korea, Park is a senior chemistry major and a long-time resident of Wheeling. Known to his friends and family as Jay, he also is a graduate of Bishop Donahue High School. As a result of the scholarship, he will have the opportunity to continue his education by working at Wheeling Hospital’s Schiffler Cancer Center under Merrick’s guidance. Merrick is the director of the Schiffler Cancer Center.
(From left are Dr. Greg Merrick, Jay Park and physics professor Dr. Peter Ehni.)
WJU’s Jeffrey M. Jacober Scholarship Fund was established in 2007 for students studying in the field of physics. Created by the family of Rhode Island businessman Jeffrey M. Jacober, it provides annual support to a deserving physics student at the university while offering practical experience at the Schiffler Cancer Center.
Jacober was diagnosed with prostate cancer and embarked on an exhaustive search to find treatment before becoming a patient of Merrick at the Schiffler Center. Tragically, after successfully undergoing treatment at Schiffler, Jacober lost his life in an accident.
Throughout his life, Jacober had sought to educate the public about health care. Though his plans were cut short, this scholarship was established to recognize his intent and belief that research is a key factor in health, and that education is paramount.
“This ongoing collaboration between the Urologic Research Institute and Wheeling Jesuit University demonstrates the active learning that happens when academics is complemented by invaluable experience at a first-class facility such as the Schiffler Cancer Center. The vision of Dr. Merrick and his team is renowned in the medical world and we are thrilled to be a part of it,” said McAteer.
WJU students and professors of physics play a key role at the URI. In a unique relationship, students are given an opportunity to work with medical professionals, performing innovative research and participating in practical treatment of cancer patients. Medical physics, and the subspecialty of medical dosimetry, is an expanding and competitive area of diagnostic and clinical medicine, and this collaboration of academic inquiry partnered with practical application makes it one of a kind in the U.S.
The Schiffler Cancer Center, the URI and WJU focus on innovative research methods directed toward the effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer and other urologic disorders.
“This is a unique opportunity for our physics majors, who will have opportunities to be a part of cutting-edge research at Wheeling Hospital and learn from one of the country’s leading urologic radiation oncologists. Patients from 34 states and 14 foreign countries have sought Dr. Merrick’s expertise for treatment of prostate cancer,” said Dr. Peter Ehni, chair of WJU’s Department of Physics.
Merrick said, “My team and I have been conducting groundbreaking research for years. Through the Urologic Research Institute, we have created an entity that will better allow us to promote, raise funds for and achieve our goals. We are grateful to Wheeling Jesuit University and the Schiffler Cancer Center at Wheeling Hospital for helping to make this institute a reality. We congratulate Jay on his selection as 2009 Jacober scholar.”
The newest of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, WJU offers students a high quality private education. Since 1995 U.S. News & World Report has ranked WJU among the top institutions in its “Best Master’s Universities in the South” category. The campus is also home to the Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center, the Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies®, the NASA-sponsored Classroom of the Future, a Challenger Learning Center® and the Clifford M. Lewis Appalachian Institute.
For more information, visit www.wju.edu or call 1 (800) 624-6992. For additional information on the Schiffler Cancer Center, visit www.wheelinghospital.org/services/CancerCare/.
