Surnames: Diaz, Rachu

----Source: The Tribune Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI), Volume 48, No. 32, August 6, 2008, Page 14

Rachu, Gregory S. (Graduation - May 16, 2008)

Gregory S. Rachu, MD, MPH, son of Ray and Sharon Rachu, Colby, and his fiancé, Zobeida Diaz, MD, graduated form the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine May 16. They participated in the days activities starting at 10 a.m. with the School of Medicine Recognition Ceremony in the Wisconsin Union Theater followed by a School of medicine reception in the Great Hall and Tripp Commons, Memorial Union.

The commencement ceremony at the Kohl Center followed by the School of Medicine graduation celebration at the Monona Terrace. On Saturday, they hosted a reception and open house at their home in Madison for family and friends.

Dr. Rachu took a non-traditional route to getting his medical degree. Following graduation from Colby High School, he attended UW-Eau Claire transferring to UW-Madison where he graduated with his B.S. degree. After graduation he joined the Peace Corps., spending two years in Eritrea, East Africa, teaching middle school science.

When he returned to the United States, he went back to school receiving his Masters of Public Health from Tulane University, New Orleans. He took a position with the American Refugee Committee and returned to Africa where he did AIDS research in Uganda and South Sudan.

Back in the U.S., he took a position as an epidemiologist in Northern Wisconsin working with the Chippewa band of the Lac du Flambeau Indians.

It was while living in Woodruff working with the Great Lakes inter-tribal council that he decided to apply to medical school. He was accepted at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and while studying there, he had many exciting experiences.

He spent a summer in India working for the World Health Organization doing a study on the eradication of Polio in that part of the world. He also went to Cuba with a group of doctors and another student on a mission. While at the university, he receive many humanitarian awards for the things that he did, including volunteering at a free clinic in New Orleans after the disasters there.

After graduation, Dr. Rachu and Dr. Diaz spent two weeks in Costa Rica on a much deserved vacation before heading to Providence, RI, where they will be doing their residencies. They were both selected on Match Day by Brown University, RI. Dr. Rachu is doing his residency in family medicine and Dr. Diaz in child psychiatry.