When Owen Ala raised pigs, sheep and steers with his Kenai Peninsula 4-H group and butchered his first animal in fourth grade, he never realized how handy that experience would become in medical school.
Dr. Ala, who graduated from Cornell University medical school in May, says the skills required for dissecting a cadaver or performing surgery are very similar to the skills required for butchering a pig or steer. Through 4-H, he learned the basics of anatomy.
"I kind of had a leg up," he said.
His 4-H public speaking experiences also help him present research to large audiences and patient case histories to doctors.
Ala, 29, began a five-year residency in orthopedic surgery at an Albuquerque, N.M., hospital in summer 2008. He is one of a group of distinguished Alaska 4-H alumni who have gone on to succeed in college and in a variety of careers.
The 4-H program, part of UAF's Cooperative Extension Service, emphasizes a hands-on approach to learning life skills, citizenship and leadership. A handful of 4-H agents across the state run the program with the help of more than 1,100 youth and adult volunteers.
Local 4-H clubs emphasize learning about cooking, sewing, gardening, science and raising livestock, as well as government and a host of other topics. 4-H kids have also participated in a moose hunt, earned emergency medical certification and studied crime scene investigation. Club members themselves choose what to emphasize.
