A Heart for Service

In her home state of Arizona, Faith Chadwick ’24 was used to wearing short sleeves year-round. That changed when she decided to attend DeSales.

“I fell in love with the warm, Salesian hospitality and the kind faculty here,” said Chadwick, a Spanish graduate. “The initial transition was difficult. But I quickly found friends, clubs, and fun events on campus to be a part of.”

Chadwick’s resume of extracurricular activities is extensive. Not only was she a literature tutor and Student Government Association class president, she co-founded Students for Health Humanities—the first global health humanities organization led by students—in 2022, and helped organize the second annual Aurora exhibition on campus in the spring of 2024.

“SHH teaches empathy and compassion in the health field through humanities-based discussions, interactive projects, and volunteerism,” said Chadwick.

The organization earned the 2023 SGA Organization of the Year award, prompting the creation of the new Health Humanities Scholars division for graduate students. Chadwick chose to major in Spanish and minor in biology after her experiences as a phlebotomist at the Mayo Clinic and volunteering at the Pulse Cardiovascular Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“In both roles, I have often had to engage with patients who have limited or no English proficiency. I have been able to help translate for medical staff and forge meaningful connections with Hispanic patients during these vulnerable moments.”

Studying abroad in Segovia during Summer 2023 helped expand her fluency in Spanish, while also fulfilling a lifelong dream to live in Spain. While there, she stayed with a host family and shadowed a pediatrician.

Chadwick’s love of travel and healthcare inspired her to apply to the Master’s in Global Health program at Arizona State University. After being accepted into the program, she ended up finishing her undergraduate studies at DeSales early, in late 2024. She returned to the Lehigh Valley in May to walk at Commencement alongside her fellow graduates.

Chadwick is set to complete her master’s program in 2026, and then intends to go back to school to become a physician assistant and advocate for underserved populations. She also plans to continue her involvement with narrative medicine and become a published author.