A 1995 graduate of Valley Catholic School, Richard Church was a member of the high school’s first coed graduating class.
When he was honored on Jan. 29, 2014, Dr. Church was serving as a full attending physician at the University and Memorial campuses of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
Unable to attend the ceremony, he sent a touching video about his experiences at Valley Catholic.
Richard’s mother, Myrna, who accepted the award on his behalf. Myrna Church served in the SSMO infirmary for many years, is a Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO) associate, and continues to volunteer at both St. Vincent’s Emergency Room and the SSMO convent.
Valley Catholic School President Bob Weber shared these remarks during award presentation:
Richard was part of the first graduating class from Valley Catholic High School that included male students. His time spent at Valley Catholic included strong performance academically as well as taking part in many of the different aspects of student life as a Valiant. He participated in athletics, student government, and music while attending school on campus.
One of Richard’s former teachers remembers his strong writing skills that developed while at Valley Catholic saying, “If he ever gets tired of being an emergency room doctor, he could easily pursue a career in writing. He was that good.”
After graduating from Valley Catholic, Richard attended St. Olaf College in Minnesota before earning his M.D. degree from Tufts University in 2004.
Richard currently serves as a full attending physician at the University and Memorial campuses of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and was recently promoted to Assistant Residency Director of the Emergency Medicine Residence at UMass.
He and his wife Julie live in Franklin, Mass. with their two young children Delanie (6) and Grayson (3), and are expecting their third child in May.