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Daniel Shivapour is from Burlington, Iowa and has been actively involved in a number of Tucker Foundation projects during his time at Dartmouth. As a pre-med Biochemistry major with aspirations to become a pediatric specialist, his largest commitments have been to programs in Health and Fitness area of the Dartmouth Community Services. This is Daniel’s second year as Chair of the Dartmouth Wishing Well and his third year of involvement as a mentor in the S.T.A.R. (Steps Toward Adult Responsibility) program.
The Dartmouth Wishing Well is a volunteer group that works directly with the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD). The program’s mission is to make the hospital a happier place for sick children. The group does this by granting small wishes to pediatric inpatients who are at CHaD for long stays and by celebrating different holidays on the ward with parties and games. Though originally established in 1989, the Wishing Well was dormant for many years. However, with the continued hard work of Daniel and several other dedicated volunteers, the group now boasts an active membership of over 100 students.
S.T.A.R. is a mentoring program that brings Dartmouth students together with Upper Valley teenagers living with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, Crohn’s Disease, cystic fibrosis, and cancer. Its mission is to create an emotionally supporting environment for both the teens and their parents. Interaction with STAR mentors occurs in a number of settings, including monthly dinner discussion groups at DHMC and informal social activities such as attending Dartmouth athletic events.
Daniel considers his work with the Tucker Foundation among those of his most valuable Dartmouth experiences. In addition to reinvigorating his commitment to service, Daniel’s involvement with Tucker Community Services projects has allowed him the opportunity to explore and solidify his interest in medicine and has given him invaluable insight into the way he hopes to interact with his patients one day as a physician.
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