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Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group (PAFMG) Awards Annual Scholarships

Youth Wins First Clinic Scholarship

Reprint of a HealthNews article, August 1993

Douglas McLachlan, left, winner of the first $16,000 Clinic scholarship, is congratulated by Clinic Executive Director David Druker, M.D.

Palo Alto Medical Clinic physicians have awarded their first $16,000 scholarship to a 17-year old Redwood Shores youth who "already exhibits the determination and intelligence that are essential to becoming a fine doctor."
The recipient of the $4,000-a- year, four-year scholarship is Douglas Ian McLachlan, a graduate of - Carlmont High School in San Carlos. He has been accepted at Princeton University this fall as a pre-med student. His parents are Aston and Rochelle McLachlan.

Besides being an almost straight- A student, McLachlan accumulated a long list of extra-curricular activities, including being student body president last year; serving as president of the Students for a Better Environment for four years; holding numerous other student government posts; acting in two musicals and a play, being on the varsity soccer team; helping other students as a tutor; and being both Home-coming Prince and Prom Prince.

McLachlan said he plans to focus on ecology and evolutionary biology to learn about the effects of the environment on human health.

"I'm totally excited about the scholarship," McLachlan said. "It's definitely a lot of money." But he said he appreciates the support of Clinic physicians perhaps even more than the financial aid: "With the support from the Clinic, I feel more drive and will be more tenacious about succeeding."

Clinic physicians voted in 1992 to award an annual scholarship. The Scholarship Committee said recipients must demonstrate a need, be in the top 10% academically and be interested in medicine.

Twelve candidates were screened initially by Jacquelyn Hodge, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula. She selected four finalists for the scholarship committee to interview. Members of the committee are Drs. Richard Babb, Gordon Campbell, Richard Greene, Roger Jackman and Paula Kushlan.

McLachlan's interest in medicine was sparked when he had a benign cyst removed. "That really got me to think about the impact of health and biology," he said.

"It was hard to balance grades and activities," he said. "It wasn't until after my freshman year that I found a way to manage my time and have energy and stamina to go from7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. In the wee hours,' think, Just do a little more.'"

This summer, he is working as an intern at KPIX, the San Francisco TV station. He will receive a salary and a matching grant for total college expenses that are expected to exceed $20,000 a year.