“Don’t go into it for the money,” were the first words of advice given to Harold Kretzing ’55 from his father when the then-high school student informed his father that he wanted to be a doctor. Kretzing took the advice seriously.

Now retired after a long career as a family physician, Kretzing is giving back by volunteering at the Sadler Health Center in Carlisle, Pa. as well as with various other non-profit organizations.

The medical field is in desperate need of volunteers, especially doctors, he says. Many people do not have health insurance or simply cannot afford to pay for doctor’s visits and medical treatment. “Someone who makes $450 a week, while that may seem like a lot of money to a college student, when you have other expenses such as a family to look after and serious health problems, that amount will not cover everything. We try to help make sure that the person can get the medical treatment they need and still take care of their families,” he says.

Health care is a necessity in life, Kretzing adds. “Doctors should not have to pick and choose who to give treatment to based on who has the most money.”

After Kretzing finished high school, he planned on attending Shippensburg University to be a teacher. However, shortly before leaving for college he attended a church camp affiliated with Albright and it completely changed his life’s direction. “The Holy Spirit leads you,” he says. Simply put, Kretzing says he believes that’s what led him to Albright and to becoming a doctor.

Following graduation he went on to Temple University to study medicine. During the Korean War he served in the public health field, and then went to work in a small community in Carlisle, Pa. “Being in a small community you can see people at birth and on through to their marriage,” he says. Some of his most touching moments and fondest memories are of meeting families, delivering their babies, watching them grow up and then delivering the next generation of babies.

Although he was a busy physician, he also served as the athletic doctor at his children’s high school so that he could still participate fully in their lives.

And today, he is still giving back to his community.

In addition to volunteering at the local clinic, Kretzing serves on the board of several volunteer groups such as The Semination Fellowship, which is much like Habitat for Humanity. However, instead of building homes, the organization buys them to renovate and sell to first-time home buyers. He also volunteers for an organization that helps people over the age of 55 with the cost of rent and medications.

Kretzing still thinks of the advice that his father gave him when he advises future doctors. “The financial rewards are there for doctors but that should not be your aim,” he says. Interacting with people and being involved in the world is so important for doctors. Having served on several medical review boards, he says, “Everyone is smart and has the grades to be a doctor but what they are also looking for is a well-rounded individual who is able to do additional things like athletics, singing and community involvement.”

Someone going into the medical profession should be focused on taking care of people, he stresses, “not on the money.”

– Ashley Seilhamer ’05