Portland State Magazine Spring 2009

Dentist with a heart MICHANGELO AUST '02 once dreamed of owning a garage full of Ferraris, but his heart got in the way. Aust, who earned a dentistry degree from Marquette University in 2006 after completing a science degree at PSU, comes from humble beginnings. During high school, he and his mother experienced homelessness, used food stamps, and received public health care. lc's little wonder he yearned for something better. "I saw dentistry as my avenue to financial freedom," he says. "I thought owning a large dental chain was a way to make money." Then he met a woman, who later became his wife, doing her postgraduate dental residency at an HIV/AIDS clinic. Aust rhe graduate student field place– ment program between PSU's School of ocial Work and OHSU. He lives in Porrland with his partner, Cameron Crook, and enjoys co-parent– ing his rwo-year-old son. Karina Whitmarsh '00 is a freelance phorographer in Lake– bay, Washington . Whitmarsh writes, "I often refer to PSU as a cornerstone of my Ii Fe's prog– ress. I am thankfu l for the giv– ing teachers and diverse students rhar became my friends during my brief sray in Oregon." Whit– marsh has been married for 12 years and has two daughters. Brenden Butler '01 and wife, Emily Galliland Brenden Butler '01 and his wife, Emi ly Gilliland, walked with AmeriCorps alumni in the Washington, D.C., inaugural parade for President Barack Obama. He writes, "Ir was such a huge honor to be carrying ALUMNI NOTES got a job there and it changed him. "The AIDS clinic opened my eyes to how few alternatives people have for health care," he says. "As an evolved society, we should provide basic health care for everyone and be measured by how well we cake care of the poorest." Today, Aust is a demist at the Marshfield Clinic in Chip– pewa Falls, Wisconsin. lc's a Federally Qualified Health Center that specializes in serving che poor. ''Typically, we gee Medic– aid patients, but we also cake private pay patients and use the profits to help pay for poor patients," he explains. The clinic also provides physical and mental health care. Helping che poor so inspired Aust chat he and other classmates formed Compassionate Dental Care International (CDCI), a nonprofit chat provides free dental care in Third World countries. They recently built a dental clinic in che Dominican Republic. The dentists themselves fund the effort. "On my first CDCI mission, I increased my student loan co buy dental supplies and pay for my plane fare. The patient sits down, points to what hurts, and we treat it." And what happened to Aust's dream of being a dental chain tycoon? "The person with the 14 Ferraris was who I thought I wanted to be," he says softly. "But this work helps me stay true to myself." ■ BY BOBBIE HASSELBRING rhe Oregon stare Hag in our nation's capital for such an historic event." Burler is a pro– gram manager for Hands On Greater Porrland, a nonprofit clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities in Portland. Erik Emerick '01 is a service performance manager ar Vestas American Wind Technol- ogy, a worldwide wi nd turbine manufacturer. Emerick and his wife, Mary, live in Portland and are expecting their first child . Julie Sheldon Huffaker MBA '01 is a parrner ar On Your Feet, a Porrland-based '02 business consulting firm rhar uses improvisational theater. Huffaker is also an avid traveler and is learning Spanish. Jost Lottes MBA '01, PhD '04 is rhe evaluation specialist for the Oregon Geriatric Education Center ar Oregon Health & Science University. Lorces also directs rhe Senior Adu lt Learning Center ar Port- land Stare. He is a favorite speaker ar P U Weekend, held on campus each fa ll. Michelle Medler '01 is a member of rhe Quadraphonnes, an all-female saxophone quartet SPRING 2009 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 27