Smith Scholar Spotlight

Damien M. Parker, M.D.

Portsmouth resident Damien M. Parker, M.D. determined his educational path in high school. In 2000 while still a senior at Churchland High School, Parker was selected for Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine’s guaranteed admission program. Parker, the son of a high school teacher and a shipyard worker, was among 20 students VCU tapped for its guaranteed admissions program in 2000.

Parker completed his VCU undergraduate degree in 2004 and his medical degree in 2008. While he had a scholarship from VCU, Parker appreciated also having a Florence L. Smith Medical Scholarship from the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. “This is the largest scholarship I received. It definitely helped me cover part of my tuition.”

Parker is doing a pediatrics residency at the University of Indiana. While in medical school, he volunteered on a medical mission trip to Nairobi and Kenya, which “made me grateful for what we have such as hospitals that are close by, well-trained doctors and nurses and clean facilities.”

To read about other Smith Scholars click here.