Three alums walk into an O.R.

The sun never sets on Carson-Newman’s mission. The University’s alumni span the globe, carrying the missional torch, serving the Kingdom through servant-leadership. And because of this, there are those times when their paths do cross at the most unexpected times.

That’s what happened in an operating room at Martin Army Community Hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia, recently.

“It was kind of funny,” recalled Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Crouch, a certified registered nurse anesthetist and 2004 alumnus, who happened to be assisting with a c-section. “The patient was talking about the college she was going to.”

That was when Dr. Elizabeth Campbell, who was performing the c-section, asked where the patient was attending college, the patient responded and inquired where the doctor had attended.

“Dr. Campbell replied, ‘Oh, this small college in the middle of the mountains in Tennessee,’” said Crouch.

The answer immediately caught the attention of Crouch and obstetric nurse Major Jessica Verweil, who was also on-hand for the procedure.

“Oh…I went to a small college in the mountains of Tennessee,” said Crouch, immediately inquiring of the doctor, “where did you go?”

Dr. Campbell, a member of the Class of 2014, replied, “I went to Carson-Newman.”

“I went to Carson-Newman!” exclaimed Crouch, whose surprise was shared by Verweil, who also graduated from C-N.

Like Crouch, Verweil, a 2010 alumna, was an ROTC cadet while at C-N.

Crouch laughed, “I’m like, ‘the three main people in this case are all Carson-Newman grads!’ We were like, ‘what are the chances….’”

Their graduation years span a decade. Though none of their paths crossed during their time on campus, for three alumni that day, the current of Mossy Creek briefly took them “back home.”