Murray State University Pre-Med Student Interns with 1998 MSU Distinguished Alumnus Recipient

From left: Dr. Kern Alexander, interim MSU president, Richard Blalock II, MSU

senior pre-med major and a May 2006 graduate candidate, and his father,

Dr. Richard Blalock, a 1974 MSU graduate and team physician to the MSU Racers.

 

Richard Blalock II was able to enhance his pre-med skills while at Murray State through a summer internship with Dr. Eddie McFarland, a 1978 graduate who is vice chairman, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, and professor, Division of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. 

A pre-med major who scored among the top eight percent in the nation on his Medical College Admission Test Scores, Blalock shadowed McFarland during clinic and surgery procedures. The recipient of the 2004 MSU Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Research Scholarship, Blalock also assisted McFarland with his “ Examination of the Shoulder: The Complete Guide ,” textbook. 

Also the team physician for the Baltimore Orioles, McFarland said the students he works with during summer internships are provided with invaluable experiences that will aide them throughout their medical career. “All of the experience I gained while at Murray State has benefited me today, and I believe it is important to pass along that same spirit to those who come after you seeking medical career professions,” he said.

Blalock, who also acted as a normal model for shoulder examinations and movement for the book photographs, said he reviewed each chapter, ensuring the citations were accurate. “I also made sure we had all of the cited material physically in our office, so there was no question about the material cited and for quick reference if needed.”

The textbook, the first of its kind, is meant to be a complete shoulder examination handbook for all clinicians, orthopedic surgeons, orthopedic residents, physical therapists, athletic trainers, or specialist treating shoulders. “There has never been a book about the complexity of the shoulder examination,” McFarland said. “Based on every one I have talked to, shoulder examinations can be difficult and I felt through this book I could describe previous shoulder examinations and tests over the years, with the ultimate goal to produce a better understanding.”

A 1998 MSU Distinguished Alumnus recipient, McFarland credits Dr. Hal Houston in the forward of the book. A1958 graduate who served as a mentor to McFarland, Houston offered a unique opportunity for McFarland during his undergraduate years. “Dr. Hal Houston allowed me to enter the surgery room with him, scrub in and watch the numerous surgeries he performed,” he said. “The summer internships we offer with students allow the same influence to be extended to them as Hal did for me.”

The recipient of the Hugh Houston Memorial, Murray-Calloway County Medical and William E. Wilson Lambda Chi Alpha scholarships while at MSU, Blalock said it was an honor to intern with McFarland. “In addition to the daily intern responsibilities, Dr. McFarland also took me to some Orioles games and that was a great experience,” he said. “I know if I am ever in the position to help pre-med students I will also do anything I can to help them prepare for a medical career as Dr. McFarland has for me.”