My Story - Peter (Van Wageningen) Vann
Last Updated on 07/09/17

You all knew me as that long name (Peter blah-de-blah van Wageningen) which now seems so very far away and long ago. Now I’m simply Peter Vann. That name changed when I went to med school, but I get ahead of myself.

After two years at two different fundamental religious colleges (Bob Jones U/Tennessee Temple), I finished off my undergrad at the U of A. Went to U of A Medical School after that and graduated in three years (failed experiment of theirs) despite a wedding AND divorce which nearly derailed that education in its infancy.

After internship at Maricopa County, I joined the US Navy for three years, one based out of Okinawa with the Marines. That was my maturation year, as up to that time all I had been was a student. Several deployments later (Mount Fuji/Philippines), I was a different person.

The last two years, I was at now-defunct Moffett Naval Air Station (NRMC Oakland Branch Clinic), in which area I met up with a friend who I married two years later and who is still my wonderful wife. She is the sister of a friend with whom I graduated med school. She and her brothers are all ABC – American-Born Chinese (first generation) from Winslow AZ. (I am the foreigner, having been born in Amsterdam, Netherlands and immigrating with my family when I was 6).

Moving on, we went to LA for two years, emergency medicine residency at Martin Luther King Jr General Hospital (part of their knife-and-gun club rehab team) in the south-central LA inner city (think Watts). Laugh: my wife worked as data tech at a lab in Beverly Hills so I used to go there for lunch on days off just to see what the other people were like and watch for movie and TV stars. After that we moved to Phoenix AZ where I have been for the last 35+ years, working ER. Believe me, it’s NOT like TV! Started out as the ‘burbs but ended up very much inner-city just like my training. I retired from that August 2014 and have not regretted it. (35+ years is a LONG time in ER). Currently, I am a teacher/preceptor at Glendale Community College paramedic training program.

Accomplishments: President (and all offices), Arizona Chapter American College of Emergency Physicians (AzCEP); Chairman, Arizona Emergency Medical Services (AEMS) Inc; Chairman, Arizona Chapter AHA ECC Subcommittee; a load of teaching for AHA, Glendale and Phoenix Fire Departments paramedics, Survival Flight (defunct medical helicopter service) and a bunch of rural departments throughout Arizona.

Community volunteer: Hands Across the Border; Corona del Sol HS (Tempe) Bands (Band Boosters for 10 years – Hey, WHAT happened to the Catalina band?! We were so GOOD back then!); Arizona Ambassadors of Music, Europe trip biennially since 2005; Arizona Wind Symphony the last 13 years (I had not TOUCHED my clarinet for 35 years – F. Carlyle Webb would be amazed. Turns out, our Conductor, 30+ years music educator in Casa Grande and Tempe, student-taught under Webb. Small world, isn’t it?). I write grants for AWS and serve as Treasurer and membership chair and play in 3rd clarinet section.

For other fun, I used to jog but now am happy walking at the gym and doing some light hiking outdoors. Yes, after 55 years in Arizona, I still can’t stand the VERY HOT summers. I am a true oddity: a non-golfer doctor. We love to travel, having been to Europe not only with Ambassadors but also on our own, and to China twice, Alaska, Hawaii (can’t count the number of times there) and the greater USA. Most recently vacationed for a month in Australia/New Zealand. Co-producer of two wonderful kids, 36 and 31, both happily married and my wife and I have three grandsons and a granddaughter. That’s about it.

For those who have drilled down the end of this long epic, my philosophy has changed since you knew me. Let me just say that my favorite author is Stephen King and my life philosophy reflects the writings of Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens.

Plan: I have a full slate of plans – I’d like to get on with the next phase of my life. Piano, tai-chi, calculus and improving my clarinet.And lots of travel.

Peter Vann
Class of 68