Dr. Charles Darby Jr, 85
An accomplished paediatrician and philanthropist, Dr. Charles Darby Jr. has dedicated his life to children’s health and wellbeing.
Playing sport can get you places
I grew up in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a small fishing village just outside of Charleston. When I wasn’t helping my dad in the family boatyard, I was playing ball. All I thought about was sports. Football, basketball, baseball – I loved them all, but was most suited for football. I guess I must’ve been good at it too because the state’s military college recruited me. My parents didn’t go to college, and I hadn’t given much thought to it myself. When I got the call to play football, I thought “Why not?”
Aim high and don’t be afraid to change course
I liked biology and was making good grades at The Citadel, so I decided to make something of myself and switched my major from business administration to pre-dentistry. On a lark, I applied to the University of Virginia dental school and was immediately accepted. About a year later, I returned home to Charleston to study medicine. I enjoy kids and was drawn to paediatrics from the beginning. Adults generally don’t take care of themselves, which is frustrating. Kids usually get well.
