By Darla Martin Tucker

La Sierra University senior Demitrio Camarena is headed for the wilds of Africa in September, effectively prolonging his entrance into medical school.

The 22-year-old future physician and Spanish/pre-medicine double major believes using his fledgling skills in isolated African villages is the best test of his compassion and commitment before launching a medical career in Latin America. “The conditions are harsh and your heart has to be in it,” Camarena said. In African villages, where he may serve as the sole medical professional for miles, Camarena will rely in part on his La Sierra pre-medical training and experience working summers on ambulances as an emergency medical technician.

Camarena is the first in his family to attend college and the only family member to join the Seventh-day Adventist religion. He is driven by a desire to reinvest blessings he says he has received from his La Sierra experience and initial connections with Adventist education. “I owe it to my family and the world to do something worthwhile,” he said.

Four years ago, Camarena had no thoughts of working in Africa nor had he heard of La Sierra University. He had his future sewed up, so to speak, at the University of Colorado, Boulder. There he planned to study biology during the 2004-05 school year followed by medical school at the University of Colorado, Denver. “I was really excited. I thought it was going to be the best thing ever,” said Camarena.

By July 2004, Camarena had already attended UC Boulder’s orientation and met his roommate when he received a phone call from Darrel Rott, former pastor of the Boulder Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Rott is the father of Camarena’s best friend, Aaron Rott whom Camarena befriended while attending Seventh-day Adventist-owned Boulder Junior Academy. Camarena’s parents enrolled their son at the institution because they wanted him to attend one of the better private schools in the area, Camarena said.
Darrel Rott asked Camarena to meet with La Sierra’s former Vice President for Enrollment, Gene Edelbach, who was recruiting potential students. Edelbach previously recruited Rott’s oldest son, Matthew offering “great scholarships,” said Darrel Rott, now director of pastoral care at Avista Adventist Hospital in Louisville, Colo. “He settled down at La Sierra and got a great education there,” Rott said. He expressed appreciation for the opportunities La Sierra provided Camarena.

Edelbach offered Camarena “an amazing” financial aid package with scholarships and government assistance, Camarena said. He now had an alternative educational choice and it made him nervous. So he prayed about it.

Camarena filled out the La Sierra application on line and a week or so later decided to attend the Riverside school. In early September, he, Aaron and Matt Rott embarked on a road trip to Southern California where Camarena eventually visited the Pacific Ocean, his first trip to the beach.

Not long after Camarena’s arrival at La Sierra, he viewed a film about the work of a physician in AIDS-ravaged areas of Chad. “That’s when I decided wanted to serve these places that are in need,” he said.

He was baptized at the end of his freshman year at La Sierra following studies with Campus Chaplain Sam Leonor whom he deems a mentor and friend. Camarena’s mother, two younger brothers, older brother and sister were “fine” with his decision to join Seventh-day Adventism, he said. “They were glad I found something that made me happy.”

Camarena’s spiritual life took root during the years he attended the Boulder academy. He left the school after sixth grade to attend public school, but kept in touch with his academy friends, sometimes joining them at the Boulder Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Not only did Camarena miss his friends, “but I wanted to continue my relationship with that community,” Camarena said. “I was already beginning a transition in my life because I did have the experience of the Seventh-day Adventist Church there in Boulder. Those people in that community were really supportive of me.”

Church families visited his home when his father was sick with bone marrow cancer, delivering fruit, flowers and compassion. Despite treatments at the University of Colorado, Denver medical campus, Camarena’s father passed away during Camarena’s senior year in high school.

Camarena is currently religious vice president for the Student Association of La Sierra University, planning dorm worships, beach vespers, Midnight Café events and other activities.

He considers his experience at La Sierra “a huge blessing.” While in public high school in Colorado, he was active in student government and played varsity football. He was among the “in” crowd and attended their parties, but didn’t enjoy it, he said. While preparing for college, he heard about university fraternity parties and thought, “Hmmm, this is the same thing all over again. I knew there had to be something more, something different.”
“When I got to La Sierra I realized this was the best party I could possibly be at,” Camarena said. “It’s been phenomenal. …I really feel like I couldn’t be more excited than I am. …It’s like a dream.”
His younger brothers, ages 13 and 15, also want to attend LSU. “They’ve seen the opportunities available to me,” Camarena said.

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)