Dr Erickson is featured in the Valparaiso University President’s Report! Check it out by clicking here.
As Valparaiso University says, “A commitment to the arts, excellence in the classroom and in competition, ethical and ambitious leaders, and extraordinary alumni- these are just a few of the things that make the Valpo community rich and vibrant”.
ALUMNI Spotlights
MEDICAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
With a Valpo degree as a solid educational base, an Air Force scholarship to attend medical school, and a desire to help people, Dr. Quenby Erickson ’94, D.O., utilizes her passion and skills in the field of dermatology, where she owns a practice on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
“It takes a great deal of discipline and self-sacrifice to start a business,” she said. “In the past year, we have seen a lot of growth, and we are in a really good place.”
Upon graduation from Valpo, Quenby had plans to earn a Ph.D. in order to conduct cancer research. However, once she began she knew that medical school was a better fit, which allowed her to work directly with patients.
“I applied for an Air Force scholarship to attend medical school, and I was fortunate to have been accepted,” she said. “It was a privilege to be able to study medicine while also serving my country.”
Her funding to attend medical school and her experience in the Air Force allowed Quenby to hone her skills and save enough money to start her own practice, which has given the business a solid foundation.
While she has certainly accomplished a great deal since she graduated, Quenby attributes much of her success to her time at Valparaiso University. Having grown up in a family that traveled around the world through church and missionary work, Quenby was happy to call Valpo home for four years.
“One of the things I was looking for in a school was stability, and Valpo gave me exactly that,” she said. “Many of the professors that I had as a student, like Tom Goyne and Gil Cook, are still teaching at Valpo. That is a huge testament to the quality of the University.”
Gil Cook, Ph.D., senior research professor, remembers Quenby for her enthusiasm and outgoing personality. “Quenby was a great student, always cheerful and outgoing, which are exceptional qualities for someone in her particular field,” he said.
Quenby hopes to continue to grow her business, and she said she is fortunate to be in a career in which she helps people feel their best. “Every single month is better than the last, and that gives me confidence that this was the right path for me.”
We think this alumna is pretty extraordinary, too.
Congrats on the Alumni Spotlight, Dr Erickson!