Published: May 07, 2009 11:49 pm         

Student whizzing through Ivy Tech Fast Track program

TERRE HAUTE — Eighteen-year-old Caleb Unger says he’s often called “Doogie Howser,” the star of the early-1990s television series about a brilliant teenage doctor.

But Unger has never seen the show.

He’s too busy working on his own career goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. And he’s well on his way.

By the end of his sophomore year of high school in Sullivan, Unger had completed most of the credits he needed for his diploma.

He then entered Ivy Tech Community College’s Fast Track program, which enabled him to finish up his high school classes at Ivy Tech and earn dual credit toward his associate’s degree.

By the end of this summer, he will complete his associate’s degree in surgical technology and, in the autumn, he plans to attend Indiana State University as a pre-med student. He’ll transfer with more than 40 credit hours toward his bachelor’s degree.

On Thursday, Unger participated in Ivy Tech commencement ceremonies, although he’s got a summer ahead of coursework and clinicals. He’s also landed a job as a surgical technician at Sullivan County Community Hospital, where he already participated in a surgery Tuesday — his first paid day on the job.

He previously had done clinical work at the hospital through Ivy Tech.

“He’s very advanced,” said Marilyn Fuson, director of surgical services at the Sullivan hospital. “We’ll be working him as much as we possibly can.”

On Tuesday, Unger was a surgical technician in a knee arthroscopy procedure. He handed instruments and equipment to Dr. Kurt Madsen, and afterward, he sterilized the equipment.

Fuson has known Unger for a long time. The hospital has a health explorers group, and while in high school, Unger was active in it. He visited the surgical unit many times and asked to job shadow.

“He’s very focused,” Fuson said. “He knew what he wanted and he went to Ivy Tech and found a way to do it.”

While Unger gave up high school social activities and participation in bowling, basketball and soccer, “I was ready to move on,” he said. He’s also had to work his way through college, although he did receive an Ivy Tech scholarship to help him complete his degree.

Unger has always wanted to be a surgeon. Pursuing the surgical technology program at Ivy Tech was a way to find out if that was the right career field.

“I love it,” Unger said. Seeing surgery up close has never bothered him, and working as an orthopedic surgeon holds a special appeal. “It’s like putting puzzles back together,” he said.

Janet Swalls, a dean at Ivy Tech who has overseen the Fast Track program, described Unger as “an extraordinary individual.”

The Fast Track program was a perfect fit for him and his career choices, she said. “He’s a unique individual. He’s very career-minded and career-driven.”

Debbie Wilson, Ivy Tech’s surgical technology program chair, remembers noticing that Unger didn’t take notes and she figured he probably wasn’t paying attention. He turned out to be an A student and a good listener. “He’s like a sponge. He absorbs it all,” she said.

Unger said his key to success is pretty simple. “Do what you enjoy,” he said. “If you do what you enjoy, everything else will just kind of fall into place.”

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.