South Whidbey High School grad to help children in Africa this spring

By Evan Thompson • January 21, 2017 6:00 am
Evan Thompson / The Record — Craig Hawkinson will use TheraBand for his work in Uganda. TheraBand is used to strength the upper and lower extremities.
Evan Thompson / The Record — Craig Hawkinson will use TheraBand for his work in Uganda. TheraBand is used to strength the upper and lower extremities.

Craig Hawkinson, a 2010 graduate of South Whidbey High School, is just four months away from making one of the biggest journeys of his life.

In May, Hawkinson will travel to Uganda to provide training, education and instruction to children with disabilities. He is among a half-dozen other students and faculty from George Fox University’s School of Physical Therapy making the trip.

The physical-therapists-in-training will partner with local leaders and advocacy groups in Uganda. One of the ultimate goals is to meet the physical and educational needs that exist in the communities, which sometimes contain kids who are misdiagnosed or mistreated and deal with issues such as muscular dystrophy.

Hawkinson is a second-year graduate student at the university located in Newberg, Ore., where he is working toward a doctorate in physical therapy with a specialization in physical rehabilitation. Doctorates are typically earned in three years and focus on clinical skills, Hawkinson said. Hawkinson earned his bachelor’s degree in clinical physiology from Central Washington University.

Hawkinson said he hopes the trip will expand his experience as a physical therapist while also helping him grow as a person.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity,” Hawkinson said. “I take a lot of joy in what I’m doing right now as a career path. It would be fun to get over to a Third World country and get to provide services that they wouldn’t have the best access to or have the quality of health care services that they can provide.”

The only other country Hawkinson has been to outside the United States is Canada. Though he is unsure exactly where in Uganda he’ll be working, he’s eager to plant his feet on an entirely new continent.

Hawkinson hopes to focus on treating a pediatric patient population upon graduation from George Fox University. He is currently doing clinical work in Anacortes while residing in Freeland.

In order to support the cost of the trip and the supplies that go along with it, Hawkinson needs to raise $3,000. For those interested, Hawkinson requested that donations be sent to 3355 East Fernwood, Apartment 222, Newberg, Ore., 97132.