Dan Juzych recalls his 12th birthday vividly, waking up with the excitement children feel on a day designed to celebrate them. However, for Juzych, this recollection isn't centered on the cake or presents. It's the day he was gifted his passion for global health.
Juzych was celebrating with friends and family at an ice cream shop when a phone call interrupted the party. Two Ukrainian brothers had arrived at the hospital where his father, a physician, worked. One brother had lost his eye in 2014 during a protest in Ukraine, and complications had developed.
Juzych was faced with the choice to either stay at his birthday party or leave early to accompany his dad to the hospital.
He chose the latter and is grateful he did.
"At 12 years old, I realized how incredibly lucky I was," he said. "Being 17 years old, he wasn't much older than me at the time."
Juzych is Ukrainian American and grew up deeply connected to his Ukrainian roots. Ukrainian was the first language he learned. He attended Ukrainian school every Saturday and was active in the Ukrainian scouting community. His parents modeled a life built around identity, service, and care for him and his three siblings. That sense of responsibility to family and community was ingrained early on.
Dan Juzych (far left) and his three siblings grew up with close ties to their Ukrainian roots. (Photo courtesy of Dan Juzych)
"I honestly can't thank my parents enough for how much of an influence they've had on my life, the way they raised me, the importance of education, staying active, and being an athlete," Juzych said. "My parents were both pretty active, and I think that really inspired me in a lot of ways."
Being raised in Detroit, Juzych's activity of choice was hockey. The frozen winter lakes fostered his love for the sport he began playing at a young age. As he grew, he refined his skills and competed through the junior hockey circuit in both Alaska and Illinois. When it was finally time to choose a college, he knew he wanted balance between academics and athletics.
He chose to become an ice hockey student-athlete at Colby.
"I was really attracted to the balance of pursuing a really rigorous academic career and an athletic career," he said. "The brand-new facilities and coaching staff at Colby were a draw, as well, and nothing was limiting on either the academic or athletic side."
However, it was the words from head coach Blaise MacDonald during Juzych's recruitment that really solidified his decision. "It's not about the next four years; it's about the next 40."
Colby was exactly what he was looking for. Juzych graduated a semester early with a degree in biology, a concentration in neuroscience, and a minor in science, technology and society studies. On the ice, he competed in 48 games for the Mules, helping lead them to a pair of New England Small College Athletic Conference semifinal appearances.
Dan Juzych takes a shot for Colby in a men's hockey game. (Photo courtesy of Colby)
"I was really attracted to the balance," Juzych said. "Nothing was limiting me on the academic side, and nothing was really limiting me on the athletic side."
During college, Juzych became involved with Eye Care for Ukraine, a nonprofit that connects physicians in the United States and Ukraine to expand access to eye care by building training programs, supplying equipment and strengthening ophthalmology systems. With support from Colby, he traveled across the United States, learning how surgeons are trained to perform corneal transplants. He helped identify equipment, raise funds and send essential tools overseas.
Dan Juzych (far left) works with an Eye Care for Ukraine team. (Photo courtesy of Dan Juzych)
Juzych traveled to Ukraine on multiple occasions after the expansion of the war in 2022. Getting there meant flying into southeastern Poland, then crossing the border on foot.
"I remember handing my U.S. passport over and them asking, 'What are you doing here?'" he said.
He recalls the sound of air raid sirens at night and how quickly those sounds became part of his daily life there. As a siren went off during lunch one day and a child asked when it would end, the room fell silent.
"That really hit me," Juzych said. "People have to live with this every day. Kids."
Witnessing that moment reshaped his reality.
"These people are living through a war and can stay positive," he said. "The least I can do is be grateful that I have the opportunity to study."
That mindset altered Juzych's approach to one of the most prestigious opportunities available. He had only heard of Rhodes Scholars in passing by a family friend, but while at Colby, curiosity pushed him to learn more.
"I emailed the president of Colby," Juzych said. "I still can't believe he responded and actually responded and guided me to the right resources. I'm incredibly grateful and give President (David) Greene a ton of credit for supporting me throughout the process."
With immense support from faculty mentors, coaches, advisors and his family, Juzych stayed afloat through multiple rounds of interviews and made it to the final round.
"I was just happy to be in that room," he said. "To be considered among those people was incredibly humbling."
When his name was called, the moment felt bigger than recognition.
"I'm honestly a byproduct of my family and my community," he said. "I wouldn't be here without them."
Now a Rhodes Scholar, Juzych sees the opportunity as the ultimate enhancer.
At Oxford, he will pursue graduate studies in global health modeling and the history of science, technology and medicine, with plans to attend medical school afterward. More importantly, he will enter a global network of scholars, researchers and leaders working across disciplines and borders.
"I think one of the reasons I was really attracted to Oxford is just this incredible network of scholars," he said. "Being surrounded by people from all over the world who are trying to have a positive impact, that's really inspiring."
For Juzych, that environment represents access to ideas, collaboration and scale. It's the kind of access needed to address global health problems he has already seen firsthand.
"Ukraine isn't unique," he said. "There are people suffering all over the world."
His goal is to take what he has started and expand it. He hopes to provide access and enhance global health conditions not just in one place, but wherever the need exists.
Years after leaving his birthday early, Juzych now has the tools, training and platform to enact change.
"You can truly have an impact on people's lives in a positive way," he said. "We have the opportunity to, and I think that means we have a responsibility to."
