DR. WESTRICH TO COLLECT YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Cape Girardeau physician, Dr. David J. Westrich, will receive the Young Alumni Merit Award at Southeast Missouri State University in a ceremony April 21 at the University Center.

The award is presented annually by the university's Alumni Association to an alumnus or alumna under the age of 36 who has brought distinction to the university through his or her professional growth, service and individual character.

Thomas Harte, president of Southeast's Alumni Council, said Westrich was chosen for the Young Alumni award because of his distinguished career and "because he serves as such an outstanding role model for current university students.

"David proves that hard-working graduates of this university's programs can be extremely successful in their chosen fields in a relatively short time. And when our graduates are successful, we see it as proof that our university is successful," said Harte.

As medical director of the Cape Retinal Surgery Center, Westrich is a medical specialist in the area of vitreoretinal eye care.

Westrich graduated summa cum laude from Southeast in 1980.

His medical training and experience include a residency and Vitreoretinal Fellowship from Vanderbilt University and an internship at St. Louis University.

Westrich graduated magna cum laude from the St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1984. He has received numerous honors and awards during his medical career.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon A. Westrich of Cape Girardeau, Westrich said he chose to return to his hometown "to fill a longstanding void in the ophthalmic care of citizens within the tri-state area.

"Prior to initiating my practice here, the patients in this region necessarily traveled to St. Louis or Memphis to seek vitreoretinal eye care."

A graduate of Notre Dame High School, Westrich said he chose to remain in Cape Girardeau and attend Southeast as an undergraduate students because of scholarship opportunities and because "Southeast offered a lot."

He specifically referred to the university's record of a more than 90 percent acceptance rate to medical schools for graduates from the College of Science and Technology.

Westrich singled out two biology professors who, he said, were instrumental in assisting with his undergraduate training Carl Train and Norman Braasch.

Westrich and his wife, Mary, are the parents of a 10-month-old son.