(Posted October 16, 2006)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Nicholas Bower, a native of Williamsport, Pa., and a third-year medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, will receive the Health Professions Heroes Award from Juniata College after making a presentation on his humanitarian medical program Physicians for Humanity at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 18 in Neff Hall in the von Liebig Center for Science.
Bower's talk is free and open to the public. His talk will focus on his work with Physicians for Humanity and on osteopathic medicine.
Bower, 26, started Physicians for Humanity in 2002 as a humanitarian organization for osteopathic medical students. The group, which includes physicians and medical students, work together at various hospitals, clinics and medical centers throughout Ecuador. The organization sends medical students to work with local doctors and donates pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to the health facilities where the group's volunteers work.
To date, Physicians for Humanity serves only Ecuador, but the group would like to expand its services to other countries and underserved regions of the United States. Bower started his program in Cunyaquil, Ecuador during his first year of medical school. Bower had first visited the area on a mission trip in high school, and returned to start the volunteer program in 2002.
Bower's award is sponsored by Juniata College and the Health Occupations Students of America, a Juniata student club.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.