 At this time, I find myself reflecting on the relationship between one elder, entrepreneur and humanitarian, and a wide-eyed teenage girl with a ready smile adorned in well-placed metal braces-Their paths crossed when they both quietly entered the Leadership Committee for Africa’s (LCA’s) nascent conversation about Africa in 2005.
LCA Members 2005 Years apart, Claire and Dick shared an interest in learning about the world and in their own way showed a genuine desire to do what they could do to help the less fortunate, like women food growers in Africa. Dick shared his stories revealing his vision, breadth of knowledge, beloved people and the ancient grain amaranth, a suitable and durable crop for food growers and valuable nourishment for people in underdeveloped areas of the world. He inspired LCA’s collaborative action by offering hands on projects that opened the LCA girls’ eyes to real world problems and solutions. Claire quickly placed herself in the mix of this committee. Dick Dugger was an accomplished man. After chaperoning a youth mission trip to Haiti in the 1970’s, Dick sold his company to address poverty and malnutrition concerns. He founded ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization), “a non-profit Organization dedicated to reducing world Hunger through innovative ideas, seeds and agricultural training.” In my early conversations with Dick, he described that pivotal moment of deciding to sell his business in a way that made me believe it had just happened. Dick did not intend to sell the business before the trip. He went on the mission trip to experience it with his children. He confessed, “When I came back, I kept seeing the faces of the children in Haiti, suffering from malnutrition. I could not get them off my mind and I knew I had to do something.” As Dick told me his story, I was right there with him, in the moment, imagining the faces of suffering children. I felt an urgency to share his story with our students and I imagined the full happy faces of my own children. I felt the burden of what it might be like, but for the grace of God. This is where good stories often begin. When I think about Dick’s legacy, I feel deep appreciation for the blessings of this great man. I can hear the giggle in his voice when together we would reflect on the magic of our work with LCA students, those unexpected ah ha moments happened when effort revealed an unanticipated connection, insight or result. On the other side, Claire and her LCA peers were eager to learn from Dick. Claire attentively listened to Dick’s stories about amaranth and participated in the process of growing and studying the ten varieties of the plant. She knew her work was part of something bigger. Dick had set it up so the seeds from the plants contributed to an amaranth cross-pollination study in a collaboration between Iowa State University and USDA Agricultural Research Centers. Brady Banks ’09, Morgan Henshaw ’08, Claire VanLandingham ’08, Ana Pedrajo ’08 and Jodie Davenport ‘07 As a teacher and lifetime advisor for the Leadership Committee for Africa (LCA), it was a profound privilege and blessing to work alongside Claire VanLandingham who in the beginning stages of LCA helped shape its foundation. After participating in the inaugural LCA mission trip to Christel House, South Africa (2006), and leading the Fundraising Committee for two years, Claire wrote, “The compilation of my experiences in LCA has made me passionate about helping the women and children in Africa.…I see this as our duty.” As I recall now, her words, “I see this as our duty” touch my core. A beautiful person, pure of heart and grace, Claire was truly on a mission at Culver to become the best person she could be. She was already showing that she was the “commander” of her destiny as she made her way about campus freely giving and learning in many areas: dance, music, science, LCA and CGA. Claire’s compassion, intellectual curiosity and creativity balanced with her capacity to act with discipline and purpose made her an accountable participant and leader in local activities that benefited LCA’s global associates for the betterment of women and children and left a lasting impression on me. She soaked up every opportunity as if she were on a mission to accomplish something much greater. Dick Dugger and his wife Jo, Honorary Members of LCA – November 4, 2014 The intersection of Dick’s life with LCA led to a host of learning opportunities. How rich the experience for our girls and poignant were his words that so often touched us. “You know Nancy, God has a way of bringing people together.” He never failed to remind us of this divine happening. He understood his role as an instrument of God’s work. I saw a man who truly walked the life of a servant leader. Dick followed the guide of a clear vision and understood his influence in helping associates become better people. (Greenleaf) Habitually, the harmony of his devoted expressions in word and good deed was nothing less than inspiring. On September 11, 2016, I can easily picture him nodding his head with a warm wise smile “liking with a heart” Claire VanLandingham’s post on Facebook. He passed a few days before on September 7, 2016. Claire revised and posted the quote below. The original quote uses "tithe" instead of "volunteer". "To [volunteer] is to tell the truth about who I am. If I did not [volunteer], it would say that I was a person who had nothing to give, a person who received nothing from life. A person who did not matter to the larger society or whose life's meaning was in providing for his needs alone. But in fact, who I am is the opposite of all of these things. I am a person who has something to give. I am a person who has received abundantly from life. I am a person whose presence matters in the world, and I am a person whose life has meaning because I am connected to and care about many things larger than myself. If I did not [volunteer] I would lose track of these truths about who I am." -Rev. Dr. Rebecca Ann Parker, quoting a member of her congregation on why he gives to the church. It seems Claire shared the recipe for how to live a good life. Naturally, I value the privilege to have represented Culver at Claire’s memorial service in Lawrenceville Kansas. I learned that the stories about Claire’s benevolent actions were abundant and congruent with my own memories of her as a student. It struck me the irony that a few years ago; Claire led a “Take Back the Night” event at her university to raise awareness and support for victims of domestic violence. Some say Claire made this decision after the day she broke out of a jog to help women confronted with hostile hecklers blocking their way into an abortion clinic. Claire courageously escorted them safely inside. I was surprised to hear that Claire successfully pursued various scholarships and joined the Navy to pay for her education given her privilege but it was not astonishing to learn that as a young Naval Dentist she had already made an immediate impression on her patients. We all seemed amused when a co-worker said Claire’s calendar was broken up into fifteen-minute increments so she could fit everything in her day. Yet, we sobered up quickly from the pervasive testimonial accounts that Claire was a person who made you feel like you were the center of her universe. Friends and family described her as carefree, playful, silly and goofy. She was happy! Everyone wanted to be Claire’s friend. Why did her young vibrant life of 27 years have to end? We ask ourselves at Culver “What is success? What does it look like?” If one believes it is happiness and as Aristotle suggests found in the expression of virtue, it seems obvious these two role models show a lot about the journey of an aspired integrated life. Despite the generational distance and length of life, the habits Dick and Claire embodied of lifelong learning would leave one to believe they walked in similar shoes. Like Dick, Claire did not have to die for the many who knew her to realize how good and special she was. In the aftermath of Claire’s tragic death, one poignant concise post emerged like a beacon light in a dark tunnel, #BeMoreLikeClaire. The testimonials quickly rattled across a vast social network of people Claire touched from sea to sea-endorsing it. Humbled to have worked with her, I pinch myself. I am truly the learner as I reflect on her many selfless contributions. With deep sorrow, I mourn Claire’s absence; I have so many questions I wish I could ask her! Yet the memory of how she consistently and authentically modeled a life of service worthy of emulation uplifts me. I see the answers to all that I need to know when I remember the way she lived her life.
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"Claire VanLandingham was the student a teacher could never forget, even after decades in the profession. Her tiny body housed a gigantic spirit, and her deep brown eyes radiated the intensity with which she completed every task. Claire never took anything lightly. She was a quick learner with advanced comprehension skills. Best of all, Claire had a huge heart. I can still see her sitting on the west side of the second row in the classroom at Dixie Bee Elementary School fighting tears as we talked about how disappointing it was that a young man who suffered from chronic health problems hadn’t been picked for the kickball team at recess time. It is no surprise that Claire dedicated the rest of her life to helping others. It is our goal to make the world a better place through her example."
Today's #TributeTuesday by Claire's cousin, Liza Gant. Here are some things I know: Life is beautiful, but it is brutal. It can be ugly and heart-wrenching and unfair. It's easy to watch something devastatingly horrible happen to your family and fall into cynicism in order to protect yourself from the pain. Don't. Feel deeply. Get passionate. Get pissed. I am more sad than I am angry, but not by much. Non-physical domestic abuse (verbal, emotional, manipulation, intimidation, etc) is not universally seen for what it is. It is wicked. It is dangerous. It is the symptom of something much larger. It is your aunt you've only met once because her husband has ostracized her from the family and she is too afraid to leave. It is your friend's boyfriend who calls her every 30 minutes while she's out without him, making sure that she knows that there will be hell to pay if she doesn't get back home right when he wants her there. It is the police saying there is nothing they can do. It is the refusal of a restraining order. It is the idea that if there are no visible marks and bruises, it can't be THAT bad. It is my beloved cousin, the best person I know, getting shot on a cold January morning on her way to work, by her ex-boyfriend who had never previously laid a hand on her. I know that am mournful, I am horrified, I am bewildered that there is enough evil in this world that something like this can happen. I am furious that my aunt is left without her daughter and best friend. I am furious that my cousins are left, two older brothers without their younger sister to pick on, protect, and love. My heart is shattered. My family lost our living-room dancer, karaoke champion, and one of our brightest lights. And I know I am naive enough to think that there is still good in this world. Claire-Bear... I am blessed to have grown up alongside you, to have shared so many belly-laughs and inside jokes, and to have had you as a constant motivation and inspiration. You loved me through all my junk, you made me laugh incessantly, and I really really really really really miss you.  Statement of Purpose
“I’m embarrassed to smile,” she said. “I made some bad choices when I was younger, but I’m off drugs now and I want to set a good example for my daughter.” “There’s no reason to be embarrassed; we’re so glad that you’re here. And what a great example you’re setting for your daughter by taking care of your oral health now!” I said as I leaned her back in my dental chair and adjusted the light so it wasn’t in her eyes. “Let’s take a look.” When she opened her mouth, my heart dropped. Methamphetamine usage had destroyed her oral health and not a single tooth could be saved; this 25-year-old woman would have to be in dentures for the rest of her life. I told her the news and she nodded sadly. Though I have only been practicing clinical dentistry for two years, I have already been overwhelmed by the poor state of oral health in my patients and seen too many sad cases like the one above. Dental caries are completely avoidable, yet, all too often, patients of all ages come into the clinic in an irreversible state of infection or decay. Many of my patients grew up without access to dental care, never received prophylactic care, and only come to the dentist when they have reached a level of pain they can no longer handle. At that point, the only treatment options left are likely painful and expensive. I would like to see better outcomes for my patients and eliminate the unnecessary cost, pain, and disease. I notice many problems in our current dental care system but feel powerless to stop them. I know how to treat one patient at a time but I do not know how to most effectively and efficiently treat a community. I would love to learn how to do the research to discover which problems are the most prevalent in my community, how to create effective community programming, how to use my resources in the most efficient way possible to do the most good for the most people, how to affect policy to advance dental health, and how to objectively measure the success of my programs. I am hoping these are the things I can learn during my time at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. I have always been interested in healthcare and felt compelled to address social and economic inequalities in access to and quality of care. I have always been interested in food systems, healthcare policy, advocacy for the disenfranchised, education, and preventive healthcare. However, it wasn’t until my senior year of college that I took a class that tied together and gave a name to these seemingly disparate interests of mine: public health. My experiences in the field of dentistry have only fueled my passion for public health by exposing to me the raw reality of the current U.S. dental system’s failings. I feel that my educational background has set me up for success in the field of public health. Before I came to the University of Louisville for my dental education, I attended Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, where I graduated with highest honors with a BS in Nonprofit Management. I hope that my experience with nonprofits will help me in my future in Public Health, whether I end up opening my own 501(c)(3) or simply collaborating with nonprofits in my community. In addition to my dental education and nonprofit education, I also had the opportunity to do research at IU; I worked at the Center for Cell and Virus Theory (http://sysbio.indiana.edu/) under Dr. Peter Ortoleva. Together, my research experience, my practical and academic experience in the nonprofit sector, and my background of demanding science and math classes in undergrad and dental school make me a good candidate for the rigors of a public health degree. I have been asked why I want to study Public Health as opposed to the specific Dental Public Health programs that are available. I feel that the dental health crisis in the U.S. has arisen in large part because dentists are insulated from other healthcare fields. I feel that more collaboration among healthcare professionals can only help our patients. I have seen some wonderful examples of holistic healthcare collaborations from the Free Medical Clinic in Iowa City, Iowa and the Lee Specialty Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky, where I worked as an extern last summer. Dental health is related strongly with health of other parts of the body; one example is that periodontal disease and heart disease are highly correlated. Since dental health does not exist in a vacuum, neither should dental public health. I joined the Navy in 2014 to pay for dental school, and I will be working as a dentist for the Navy for the next 4 years. Since I will be working full time and do not know where I will be from year to year, the online format that Johns Hopkins offers will be perfect for my career and my schedule. I’m looking forward to my time in the Navy, as I think it will be a great time for me to hone my clinical skills and learn more about how centralized health policies affect large populations. Once I have honored my commitment to the Navy, I plan to focus on public health work. My current vision is to open a public health clinic. I would like to work closely with other healthcare providers such as physicians, nutritionists, addiction specialists, social workers, psychologists, and pharmacists, ideally with all of these professions working together in a single site. I would like to devote a large chunk of my time to educational programming and to research. My main topics of research will likely include identifying the various barriers to care among different populations and how best to combat them, how to affect patient behaviors positively, and which education techniques are most effective at producing change. I am hoping to solidify my plans for my future public health work throughout the next few years as I develop the resources I need to be successful in this field.  A Notice of Mourning by Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center from January 11, 2018.
This week, we mourn the untimely death of one of our own. Navy Lieutenant Claire Elizabeth VanLandingham, 27, died Jan. 3 in Lake Forest, Ill. Lieutenant VanLandingham worked at the USS Osborne - Lovell Federal Health Care Center's branch dental clinic (Bldg. 1017) at Naval Station Great Lakes Recruit Training Command (RTC). Lieutenant VanLandingham was new to the USS Osborne at Lovell FHCC and was partway through her first-year credentialing tour after completing dental school in 2017. However, in the span of a few months, she already had made her mark on those she worked with, and beyond. In December, Lieutenant VanLandingham enthusiastically completed the FHCC Tactical Combat Casualty Care course to advance her deployment readiness level in the Navy, even though she wasn't required to do so as a dentist. "I haven't done anything like this before," she told an interviewer after successfully finishing the course. "It's much more than combat lifesaving (training), more advanced training ... The class was amazing, and I learned a lot." Lieutenant VanLandingham was commissioned a Navy Dental Corps officer Dec. 9, 2013. She graduated from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry early last year, was promoted to lieutenant in May, 2017, and was assigned to the USS Osborne at Lovell FHCC in August, 2017. She was a shining star at USS Osborne, and was rapidly learning and advancing according to the officer managing and mentoring the new dentists completing their credentialing year there. "She was a fantastic dentist, who earned the respect of every patient ... I told her detailer she would be ready for wherever she would be assigned in the Navy," said Commander Kristi Erickson. At her memorial service at RTC, Captain Bradford Smith, Lovell FHCC commanding officer and deputy director, said, "Our job is to ready warriors to go into battle. The work she did at the USS Osborne was absolutely critical. She cared for hundreds of patients ... the dental work she did is on the battlefield, under the sea, in the air. Her Sailors are stationed around the world and will be for decades. She will always be a part of the U.S. Navy, of Lovell FHCC, of the USS Osborne. She will always be in our hearts." One of the final paragraphs of Lieutenant VanLandingham's obituary reads - "Everyone who met her wanted to be like her. Her friends' final gift back to her is a hashtag: #BeMoreLikeClaire." Many will miss Lieutenant VanLandingham. May she rest in peace. |
