Future doctor named top tech student in Nashville
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Cameron Lowry likes to think big. And to be busy. Very busy.
It would be enough for most 20-somethings just to be a college student in pursuit of a degree.
But Cameron Lowry is anything but your average undergraduate student.
For starters, Lowry is 25, married, working various jobs and returning to college to complete his degree. And he is an information technology major who wants to go to medical school to pursue a field “that doesn’t quite exist yet,” he says.
He is already making his mark in the technology arena. In January, Lowry was named Tech Student of the Year by the Nashville Technology Council.
Each year, the council recognizes companies, innovators, thought leaders, volunteers and leaders in the technology community that push the limits in their respective fields every day.
Lowry, a Utah native who is also pursuing minors in business and biology, plans to go to medical school where he wants to study medicine and technology so he can one day run a medical practice in which he uses information technology to better optimize patient outcomes.
“I love computers and technology, but I want to go into medicine,” says Lowry. “There’s a lot of innovation that needs to be applied to medicine now, and there is tremendous need for doctors who have technical know-how. This award has validated that my crazy dream of involving technology and medicine more directly might work. It’s great to have feedback from the tech industry.
“What I really want to do with my medical and tech degrees doesn’t completely exist right now,” he grins. “I think when I’m finished with med school it’ll be time, and I’ll be one of the first ones in that arena.”
Lowry says there have been a lot of technological advances in medicine such as robots that perform surgery, but there are still many hurdles to cross.
“There is so much potential with informatics and technology in medicine. Right now much of the technology is not cost effective for most hospitals and medical practices and it is also bulky for the end user. Technology in medicine is not convenient right now,” he says.
“So I find myself asking why we aren’t doing this and that. I enjoy the research aspect of developing technology systems. It’s important for physicians to understand the back end of systems that they are implementing or requiring others to use. I want to be a physician who is on the cutting-edge and understands how it is used and can give input in the development of this technology.”
Lowry is an exceptional student, said Finn Breland, enrollment management specialist for the College of Computing & Technology.
“He is brilliant and dedicated,” said Breland. “He works harder than any student I have met before, and I have no doubt that he will succeed in his goals to revolutionize medicine through his use of technology.”
But college life, technology and thoughts of medical school are only one dimension of this tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed bundle of energy.
Lowry started his college pursuit at a community college in Wyoming straight out of high school. A member of the Mormon faith, Lowry completed his associate degree amidst a two-year mission to Argentina.
“That experience was life-changing,” he says. “It was a huge blessing. It forced me to really grow up and learn to be a man. While in Argentina I observed a lot of people who had so much potential but didn’t have the opportunity to use it. Seeing that helped me focus.”
Lowry’s next stop was to come to Nashville in 2012 for a work opportunity. In fall 2012 he officially became a Lipscomb student.
About that same time Lowry met his future wife, Brooke, at church in Nashville.
“She is the reason behind my success,” he admits. “She is a huge motivation for me.”
And the Lowrys are expecting their first baby in June.
But wait, there’s more.
Lowry, an Eagle Scout, is an assistant scout master for Nashville’s Boy Scout Troop 325, a youth seminary teacher at his church and is president of Upsilon Pi Epsilon (Lipscomb’s computing honor society). He plays in a local soccer league and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. In addition to studying for the Medical College Admission Test and taking 19 credit hours for the past six semesters, Lowry is an EKG technician for Centennial Medical Center. He also has “a ton” of hobbies, all the while maintaining an overall 3.77 GPA.
How does he do it all?
“I’m really focused on what I want to get done,” he admits. “And I feel that our Heavenly Father has blessed me with this life and my situation and I’m trying to make the most of it. I love to stay busy. I don’t like free time.”
Lowry says Lipscomb has been like family to him.
“My professors and the people at school are like the family I’m lacking here with my family being back in Utah,” he says. “They spend time with me and discuss not just academics but also life. They know more about me than just what I am in class.”
“It’s a very positive, happy, wholesome environment in which professors share their faith and where I feel safe to believe what I believe. I also love when faith is brought into science like it is at Lipscomb.”
Lowry anticipates graduating this year. With his varied major and minors requiring a few more credit hours than a typical degree path, Lowry has earned 168 credit hours with about 24 more to go. He has had medical school interviews with the University of Alabama-Huntsville, the University of Utah, University of Tennessee-Memphis and East Tennessee State University. He has been accepted to both Tennessee programs and is awaiting word from others.
Regardless of where Lowry decides to continue his medical studies, it’s a safe bet that he will continue to stay busy and enjoy life.
“I’m really just a big, grown up kid,” says Lowry. “The true beauty of life is that people just forget to dream. Sure, we have to do grown up things. But I love to just dream big.”
For more information on the College of Computing & Technology visit technology.lipscomb.edu.