John Devereux ‘26 knows he will always have a connection to Wilkes. More than connection, he intentionally forges new opportunities to help others and isn’t afraid to put in the work.
Home for John Devereux ‘26, a neuroscience major with psychology and chemistry minors, is a small, rural town in Fawn Grove, Pa., right on the border of the Mason Dixon Line. The state of Maryland is only steps away from his home. The town is so small, in fact, that less than 500 people populate the area. Growing up, he had close relationships with his teachers, and it’s no surprise that Devereux chose Wilkes to mimic the access students have to their professors and mentors due to Wilkes University’s teacher-to-student ratio.
“I knew that the journey I was about to embark on was going to be a difficult one. It was designed to be a difficult one, so having the support of professors meant the most to me,” said Devereux. Today, he is extremely grateful for his academic advisor, Debbie Tindell, PhD, professor of psychology.
“Dr. Tindell is a huge mentor for me. She’s been part of my academic career since I got here, and she’s an amazing professor. I’ve taken two courses with her and I honestly feel like I got so much information out of them. She teaches very clearly,” said Devereux.
What ultimately sealed the deal for Devereux, a Guthrie Scholar, to choose Wilkes was being accepted into the Pre-Medical Early Assurance Program. Wilkes has a partnership with Penn State Hershey College of Medicine. Once he graduates Wilkes, his future plans right now are to attend Penn State Hershey College of Medicine to become a primary care physician.
This past June, Devereux had the unique opportunity to shadow physicians at the Istituto Tumori Bari Giovanni Paolo II IRCCS Cancer Institute in Italy through a program he applied to (the Hospital Shadowing Program, part of Doctors in Italy). Devereux traveled abroad, his first time to a foreign country by himself, and spent three weeks observing doctors treating their cancer patients.
During his experience, he saw many things – doctors performing tests and procedures, staff providing support to the patients and their loved ones, coupled with all the science he had learned in the classroom coming to life before his very eyes. The highlight of his experience was holding a piece of lung lobe after a lobectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a lobe of the lung, and being able to witness that entire process and seeing, firsthand, the anatomy. He also saw a nerve graft of the facial nerve in the neck after a removal of a cancerous lymph node.
“This experience helped me to apply some of the knowledge I’ve learned and gain that passion back. I feel like, for so many students on their medical education journey, it can be disheartening with the school workload and not really seeing what you’re learning,” said Devereux. “Being able to see medicine being performed in front of me really helped continue that passion and desire to help people.”
For the rest of the summer, Devereux continued his research, as he’s been doing for the past two years, with a surgeon in pediatric orthopedics in Maryland, and being a camp counselor for children born with limb differences. Helping others is quite a theme for Devereux and it is palpable with everyone he comes in contact with, including the 13 different plant varieties he tends to at home, meticulously. According to Devereux, his friends would describe him as loud, always laughing and passionate. He isn’t afraid to try new food and enjoys running 5K marathons.
“John is clearly extremely bright, but personally, he is very down-to-earth, empathetic and compassionate. He seems to get along really well with his fellow students, and is also very highly regarded by the faculty. Just a genuine, nice guy,” said Tindell.
On campus, Devereux can usually be found studying in the library. Despite his hefty course load, he is very involved. He is president of the Neuroscience Club, is a peer mentor for the Honors Program, is director of academic opportunities for the Honors Program Student Committee and is treasurer of the Ski and Snowboard Club. He is a member of the Psi Chi National Honors and Tri Beta National Honors societies. He also helps with WEBS (We’re Empowered by Science) when he has time.
And speaking of time, how does Devereux manage to fit in all these activities? “Google calendar,” Devereux said, laughing. “I plan out all my classes before the semester starts and try to ask myself what I want to focus on, what is most meaningful to me and what am I most interested in.” Time management is a good practice, and Devereux seems to have it down to a science, no pun intended.
Some of the best advice he’s received from his mentors is to not rush trying to get everything done at one time. “I feel like that has always been an issue with me. Collectively, they help me to slow down and realize that the path I’m on is truly a journey, and not a sprint.”
Aside from Tindell’s support, he knows he can always reach out at any time, even after he’s graduated from Wilkes and embarks onto medical school, believing that Tindell and others have the best interest of their students and want to see all students succeed.
“I have no doubt that John will excel in medical school as he has done here, and will be a wonderful doctor,” said Tindell.
After medical school, Devereux plans to go back to his roots of small, rural towns and make a difference. “People do not have to go out of the country to see underserved populations. It is still difficult for people in rural areas, right here in America, to access high quality care, and that is something I want to help with when I become a physician.”
Devereux is a true example of all the possibilities students can seize here at Wilkes and there is a wealth of never ending support, at Wilkes and beyond.
“At Wilkes, I will be prepared for any future challenge, either inside or outside of medicine,” said Devereux.
