BY RANDY GRIFFITH
A founder of Somerset County Community Clinic will be honored Monday during Cambria County Medical Society’s annual Apollo Program.
Dr. Deborah Baceski will receive the society’s Apollo Award for community service during the program at Holiday Inn-Downtown, 250 Market St., Johnstown.
Led by Baceski, volunteer doctors have cared for more than 600 people since the community clinic opened in July 2007.
She also spearheaded Somerset Therapeutic Association for Riders for children with disabilities.
The program was founded in 1995 and continues to operate on Baceski’s farm.
“Dr. Baceski is unassuming, capable and caring,” former Apollo awardee Dr. Jan R.J. de Vries said.
“She has developed ideas to meet needs that escape general attention, and she sees those needs to completion.”
Five medical students from this area will receive $5,000 scholarships during Monday’s program.
Funded through cooperation of the medical society, Conemaugh Health System, Windber Medical Center, Lee Initiatives and Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, the scholarships are awarded to medical students interested in returning to this area to practice.
“Across the nation, areas are experiencing shortages of physicians,” foundation Executive Director Mike Kane said.
“This is a creative effort by our community to work together to address this issue.”
Award recipients are:
• John Ashurst of Northern Cambria, a third-year student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine who plans to specialize in plastic surgery.
He is the son of John and Stephanie Ashurst.
• Jude Aaron Fink of Boswell, a third-year student at Tulane University School of Medicine, who plans to specialize in surgery.
• Kevin Pradip Shah of Ebensburg, a third-year student at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, who plans to specialize in intervention cardiology.
He is the son of P.J. and Ila Shah.
• David J. Vasil of Northern Cambria, a third-year student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine who plans to specialize in cardiology.
He is the son of John A. Vasil.
• Douglas Ryan Weber of Patton, a fourth-year student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, who plans to specialize in internal medicine.
He is the son of Dr. George Weber.
