Chase McCaleb '09

About Chase

Hometown:
San Antonio, TX

University Partner:
Columbia University

Degree:
Biomedical Engineering

Grant Partner:
Hospital for Special Surgery

Senior Mentor:
Dr. David Altchek, Attending Orthopedic Surgeon

"The combination of an amazing internship, packed with daily interactions with a Senior Mentor who is a leader in his field, coupled with the opportunity to live with other students who each have a unique field of expertise, is an incredible experience you won't find anywhere else. As amazing as my time spent with Dr. Altchek was, the bonds I forged with the other Scholars will last a lifetime."

Scholar Background

As a longtime athlete and member of the Columbia Football team, Chase has seen more than his fair share of injuries. Out of all the broken bones and stitches, a desire has grown to help return young athletes to their sports by becoming an orthopedic surgeon. In the two summers before Steamboat, Chase worked in Bronx-Lebanon Hospital’s Comprehensive Care Center developing software as a part the Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Grant. His programs now help identify AIDS patients who have fallen out of care or have missing and/or expired health parameters. Outside of the classroom and off the practice field, Chase is an active member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Since pledging in his first semester of college, Chase has been selected to attend the Horizons leadership program, has held several officer positions in the chapter, and was chosen as the undergraduate whip during the fraternity’s biannual international meeting. When he gets a chance, Chase likes to cook, as it gives him a little taste of his hometown, San Antonio, even when it is two thousand miles away.

Internship Highlight

Chase had the opportunity to work at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) with orthopedic surgeon, Dr. David Altchek. On clinic days, he learned how to examine patients, read MRIs and, most importantly, how to help athletes deal with the trauma of being hurt. Although this alone would have been a great experience, he was also allowed to observe more than 100 hours of Dr. Altchek's surgeries. Chase was also given the opportunity to research and design a screening protocol that checks for risk factors of ACL injuries in athletes, which he then presented to the Sports Service Department at HSS. In addition to his work with Dr. Altchek, the highlight of Chase's summer was being with the other Scholars. From the Life Maps during orientation, to a camping trip that several of the Scholars went on in New Hampshire, to the Final Dinner, every moment spent with this eclectic group was enriching for Chase.