Entrada Alumni - Peter Knoester

Peter Knoester during a recent medical missions trip in Honduras “I wanted to refine my core beliefs. Through chapels, through Bible studies, through my interactions with other people, I did that.”

Peter Knoester hopes that when he finally adopts the white coat that is the uniform of his profession, it will also wear well in the classroom… and perhaps on the mission field.

Now in his second year of medical school at the University of Michigan, the 1997 alumnus of Calvin’s Entrada Scholars Program and 2002 alumnus of Calvin considered a teaching career but decided on medicine halfway through college. “Both my parents were teachers and were very influential on me growing up. I realized, too, that there are plenty of teaching positions as a physician. I felt there was a great way to get the best of both worlds.”

Entrada was another big influence. A Spanish word meaning gateway, Entrada was Knoester’s entrée into a more diverse community and a deeper Christian experience. “It was great just meeting people from around the country who were possibly thinking about Calvin.”

In the busy summer weeks of studying, playing basketball, and doing community service with Entrada scholars, Knoester also spent plenty of time “sitting up until all hours telling stories about where we’ve come from and what the Lord’s doing in your life. It was just a great way to expand your bubble — getting to know new people.”

Like many Entrada alumni, Knoester chose to study at Calvin, and he did so for spiritual reasons. “I knew I would probably go on to med school. I wanted to refine my core beliefs. Through chapels, through Bible studies, through my interactions with other people, I did that. It’s been a great building block.” In a world in which Christianity is the minority religion, Knoester says, “I feel comfortable professing my faith with non-believers.”

This is why the doctor-in-training hopes, in addition to teaching, to someday practice on a U.S. or foreign mission field. Married to Sara Veltkamp ‘01, Knoester is undecided about a specialty, though currently he favors working with either children or the elderly. “Everything looks good right now,” he says.