Gift Helps Students Whose Paths Didn't Begin in Medicine

Life is hardly a series of straight lines. But in the zigzags, we sometimes find our calling.

Paul Halweg, M.D., a pediatric anesthesiologist at McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple, Texas, recalls how a singular period in his life changed his outlook on the future, and now he’s paying it forward by supporting students. 

Dr. Halweg and his wife, Laurie Halweg, a nurse anesthetist, have established the Halweg Family Scholarship to provide financial assistance for students at the VCU School of Medicine, with preference for those who have demonstrated strong leadership and community service, who live outside Virginia, or who may be seeking higher education following a long absence. 

Dr. Halweg’s own journey didn’t begin with plans for medical school. 

A graduate of Rice University, Dr. Halweg earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. He was heading toward that field until his senior design project paired his team with an orthopaedic surgeon. Their design team was tasked with designing a new implant for shoulder reconstruction surgeries. 

Dr. Halweg found himself in operating rooms, observing physicians and seeing the impact of care on patients. 

“I was hooked. I was back in the classroom within six months of graduating college.” 

He completed his pre-med requirements and later found the MCV Campus felt like home when he was looking at medical schools.

Following medical school graduation and completion of his residency in anesthesiology, he discovered his calling in a subspecialty fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology. 

The Halwegs decided not to wait until retirement to start giving back.

“We certainly could wait until we’re older,” Dr. Halweg said, “but we wanted to pay it forward now.” 

He explained that his experience as an out-of-state student, as well as someone who found medicine after initially seeking another career, guided the scholarship’s creation. 

“There were a lot of us who ended up in medicine, but didn’t necessarily start with that as our goal,” Dr. Halweg said. “I was blessed and lucky to have many people who helped me figure out the path I needed to go, whether that was a listening ear, educational guidance, financial help, or time and assistance. Our decision to fund this scholarship is a reflection of that.”

If you would like to make a gift to support the School of Medicine, please contact Niles Eggleston, assistant vice president for development for VCU Health and the VCU School of Medicine, by calling 804- 828-2112 or emailing niles.eggleston@vcuhealth.org.