Leland Page

This fall, Leland Page ’06, from Orem, will be attending the University of Texas, San Antonio to receive a Ph.D. in medical physics where he will use the skills he learned at UVSC to make his mark in the medical field. 

“The University of Texas is a great school,” Page said. “Moving to Texas is going to be a big change but I am excited for it and my experience at UVSC has prepared me well.”

Page, who received his associate’s degree in engineering and recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physics, is excited for the new opportunity. Recent president of the American Student Association of Community Colleges (ASACC), Page is no stranger to new challenges. He has held four different positions on the UVSC student council and has worked in physics labs on campus for the last two and a half years.

While at UVSC, Page has also been active in pursuing research projects in physics. With the help of UVSC Professor Al Benson, Page was part of a recent research study on ophthalmology. The research, focusing on how lasers affect eyesight, was presented to the Utah Academy of Science, Arts and Letters this spring.

 “The technology of ophthalmology is fascinating to me,” he said. “A professor at the University of Texas, San Antonio is also doing similar research so I plan on expanding the research I started at UVSC.”

In the future, Page hopes to find a career in imaging. Imaging, a term used for methods of diagnosis, includes technology such as MRIs and X-rays. Among other ambitions, Page wants to teach physics at a collegiate level. His experience teaching physics labs and interaction with UVSC faculty has helped him develop an interest in teaching.

“I have had the most amazing teachers here.” Page said. “UVSC has incredible faculty and the whole School of Science and Health is awesome.”

Page would also like to use his leadership background to be an advocate for the field of medical physics. Through his lobbying experiences as ASACC President and as UVSC Chief Justice, he has gained an appreciation of the political spectrum and hopes to use his expertise to help raise funding for medical research.

 “The leadership skills I have gained here I know I will use for the rest of my life,”
Page said.