Blind Graduate to Enter Medical School

Timothy Cordes earned straight A’s as a biochemistry major at Notre Dame and is giving the valedictory address at commencement today. Then he embarks on a seven-year course of study at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. That’s all in spite of being blind. He’s believed to be only the second totally blind person ever accepted by an American school of medicine. Cordes has dreamed of doing research since he was 12 and has no desire to practice medicine. Cordes studied new antibiotics in the laboratory of professor Paul Helquist. “He is the brightest student with whom I have worked during 24 years of university teaching,” Helquist said.