Opening Doors: A Thank You Letter Leads to a Mentoring Opportunity
Opening a New Door for a Phi Delt Undergrad
By: Larry G. Baratta, MD, PhD, Tampa ’81
As a trustee of the Friends of Tal Bray Memorial Whole Man Scholarship, I am honored to support Phi Delta Theta undergraduates at the Florida Theta Chapter at the University of Tampa and the Florida Epsilon Chapter at the University of South Florida (USF). The scholarship alternates annually between these chapters to offer academic support for college expenses. Bond #2 Brother Tal Bray, ’65, played a pivotal role in the establishment of his chapter, Florida Epsilon, and in founding the Florida Theta Chapter.
Each summer, scholarship recipients participate in the Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute and the Shaffer Honors College of Leadership in Oxford, Ohio. During these occasions at General Headquarters, a letter of appreciation is sent to the scholarship trustee, which I consistently find meaningful.
In August 2023, I received a handwritten thank-you letter from Connor Harrison, the scholarship recipient that year from Florida Epsilon. I was particularly impressed, given that most communication occurs via email, and I took the initiative to call and convey my appreciation. During our discussion, I discovered that he is a Health Science major at USF and aims to become a physician assistant. Connor upheld a strong GPA, served as chapter treasurer, and participated in the Pre-Physician Associate Society at the University of South Florida. In summary, Connor possessed the appropriate qualities to pursue a career as a physician assistant. As the dean of academic medicine and a professor at a prominent medical education institution, I asked whether he had experience publishing scientific articles in collaboration with medical professionals, as many postgraduate programs highly regard such collaboration. Connor responded that he did not. At that time, I served as the managing editor of The Misdiagnosis Casebook in Clinical Medicine, 1st Edition, published by Springer Nature. I was in the process of authoring a scientific paper on a diabetic wound-care study I conducted in Aruba.
I extended an invitation to Connor to join my article writing team, contingent on his commitment to mastering the principles of scientific writing through personalized instruction. He exhibited enthusiasm and appreciation for the opportunity. After multiple tutoring sessions, it became evident that he could overcome the challenge. With extensive teaching experience, I quickly recognized Connor’s intelligence, aptitude, and ability to grasp technical concepts and apply them effectively. Following several months of effort on the manuscript, it was published in Wounds International in October 2024.
The article can be accessed at: https://phide.lt/WoundInternational.
Connor is pursuing a master of science in physician assistant studies at Advent Health University in Orlando, Florida.
As a professional, when life offers you the chance to mentor, instruct, and inspire an individual pursuing a career, have confidence and open the door for them to embark on a new journey where they will surpass their expectations. Proud to be a Phi!
Your Brothers Want to Help
Use the extensive Phi Delt Network to advance your career
By: Connor Harrison, USF ’24
During my undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida, I earned a bachelor’s in health sciences. Currently, I am pursuing my master’s of science in physician associate studies. While I have yet to decide on my specialty, my long-term goal is to build a fulfilling career as a physician associate.
One of the hardest parts of my college journey came during my parents’ divorce in my junior year. A broken family is hard on anyone, but that is when the Fraternity of Phi Delta Theta became more than just a fraternity; it was my home away from home, my social life, and my outlet. That is when I realized how essential these three factors are to one’s overall well-being.
My involvement in my Fraternity allowed me to grow socially and personally. Within Phi Delta Theta, I developed leadership skills by serving as the chapter treasurer for two years, proving to myself that I could take on additional responsibilities while maintaining my studies. Phi Delta Theta also provided a sense of community, such as when we held a vigil for one of our brothers, Connor Lynch, who sadly passed away. That night reminded me of the strength and support we had within our brotherhood at the University of South Florida.
Receiving the Tal Bray Memorial Scholarship was a meaningful experience in itself. It showed me that a Greek life social organization, like Phi Delta Theta, can also support academic growth, breaking the stereotype that Greek life is only about partying. The Whole Man Scholarship also gave me access to a mentorship opportunity with Dr. Larry Baratta. While working with Dr. Baratta, I learned what it’s like to balance research with clinical responsibilities. Working with him and his team provided me with insight into the field of research, strengthened my research skills, and fortified my aspirations for the future. Without him, I would not be where I am today.
Attending Shaffer Honors College during Kleberg and participating in its programs taught me the importance of putting myself out there. My advice to other Phis is to keep an open mind and introduce yourself to as many people as possible; you never know who will help guide you toward your goals. Whether it’s a scholarship, mentorship, or an event, the takeaway is to be actively engaged in whatever experience you are part of and to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. This will lead you to meet a mentor or a friend who genuinely wants to invest in your growth and future, just as Dr. Baratta did for me.
Overall, my experiences have inspired me to give back. If I have the chance to support future Phis through this scholarship, mentorship, or guidance, I would welcome the opportunity to help others navigate their academic or professional journey, just as I have been supported through mine. Phi Delta Theta’s motto, Become the Greatest Version of Yourself, still resonates with me. Through my fraternity experience, scholarship, and mentorship, I have grown academically, socially, and personally, and I hope to continue carrying the lessons I’ve learned to help myself and others reach their fullest potential. Proud to be a Phi!
