As a child, Heidi Belgum traveled the world with her family, enjoyed the outdoors and was taught the value of life-long learning. Her father, who tragically died after saving Heidi from drowning in 1999, was a fourth grade teacher who continues to inspire students even today.

Heidi says that her father is part of the reason she decided to study medicine. Today, two years into her pre-med education at Concordia College, the alma matter of her parents, Heidi is crossing borders and uncovering the skills she will need as a doctor.

In May of 2007 Heidi traveled to Cameroon, a former French colony, with a group of Concordia French students. "We almost died only twice" she said jokingly. But she and the other students made it home safely after a near run-in with bandits left their bus in a river and exposure to 130 degree heat forced them to drink the only fresh water available that reserved for refilling an overheated radiator. This adventurous trip to a continent racked with need only cemented Heidi's desire to practice medicine and help people. Heidi hopes one day to be a part of Doctors Without Borders.

“I want to make a difference in the lives of people and patients, here and in Africa--to make a better community that cares about health and the people in it.”
Recently, Heidi became a certified Emergency Medical Technician. When she turns twenty-one she will apply to be part of the Moorhead Ambulance Service. She volunteers at the Fargo Hospital and works at a nursing home.

Heidi is very aware her involvement in the field of medicine will help ensure future success. She urges students to be conscious of their ultimate goals while putting together all the little pieces that lay the path to their future. “If you are serious about what you want to do, you have to make these opportunities,” she says.

Heidi has done more than just search for medical experience. She has done some digging in other fields as well. For a month during the summer of 2007 she was in Montana and Wyoming digging for dinosaurs. As a member of the Honors Biology program Heidi was required to enroll in a research project. Though digging for dinosaurs might not seem like a worthy task for a future doctor, Heidi said it was a great way to study anatomy while collecting bones of dinosaurs dating back 70 million years.

Hiking through the Hell Creek Formation in Montana, the students were able to find dinosaur remains quite easily. So easily that fragments of bone became unimportant to them and only full skulls, tarsals, metatarsals and other complete bones were worth their time.

Heidi said her time on the dig was the “most fun I’ve ever had, being paid to walk around outside and look for dinosaurs. I would have done it for free—I would have paid for this experience. Science people are pretty amazing."

These science people have a lot of fun ahead of them, according to Heidi. “Unlike other professions, science is hands-on and the opportunities are endless. Science people can do anything.”

Inspired by her father, professors, and fellow students she hopes to positively affect the global community. Heidi’s approach to a community aware of its people, patients, and health will surely have its impact.