KU News Release

Graduation stories: ‘Wheel of Fortune’ winnings help medical student adopt child

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — When Stacy Dashiell’s husband won a sizable amount money on “Wheel of Fortune,” the couple didn’t use it to repay student loans or buy a new car.

Instead, the winnings went toward the cost of adopting a child with special medical needs from Vietnam.

“We felt the money was such a blessing, that we wanted to use it to make a difference,” said Dashiell, who is graduating May 20 from the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

Dashiell has cared for others throughout her life. She spent much of her childhood at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., with her sister, who suffered from spina bifida. Dashiell said watching KU physicians treat her sister inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.

“What I saw, and what I want to emulate, were incredible interpersonal skills and the ability to help families make it through a very difficult situation,” Dashiell said. “Those qualities made such a difference for my family.”

Last fall, as she entered her senior year of medical school, Dashiell again had reason to appreciate those qualities as she and her husband, Christian, welcomed an infant daughter into their family.

Their daughter, Elliana, weighed about 2 pounds at birth, and the Dashiells knew little about her medical condition when they made the trip to Vietnam to bring her home. Almost a year later, Dashiell said Elliana is small for her age but developing well.

“That sense of the unknown really gave me a greater respect for what a patient’s family, and especially parents, have to go through,” Dashiell said. “I really feel that it is helping me become a better physician.”

Dashiell, a native of Cottonwood Falls, will specialize in family medicine when she begins her residency training at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., after graduation. Upon completing her residency, Dashiell said she would like to practice medicine in an underserved area.

“Growing up in a small community, I can certainly appreciate the need for family physicians in rural Kansas,” Dashiell said.

Alongside Dashiell, 157 graduating medical students will take the next step toward becoming physicians as the KU School of Medicine holds its hooding and graduate awards ceremony at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Lied Center.

Barbara Atkinson, executive vice chancellor of the KU Medical Center and executive dean of the School of Medicine, said this year’s graduating class has raised the bar since it was admitted to the school, performing exceptionally well in academic testing and clinical training.

“The Class of 2007 is a remarkable group of talented students who have distinguished themselves and our university during their studies,” said Atkinson. “Collectively they represent the most talented class of students ever to graduate from our school. Individually they each represent the best of medicine.”

Atkinson said the Class of 2007 will go far in fulfilling the School of Medicine’s mission of training skilled doctors to serve Kansas. Of this year’s graduating class, 64 will stay in the state to conduct their residencies.

“Knowing you represent the future of health care, we are confident that our future is in the most capable of hands,” Atkinson said.

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