A new addition to the family

Students heading to the campus medical center for a checkup can rest assured that their doctor is not only an accomplished family physician, but can also pitch a mean fastball.

Dr. Rocklan Walker, a semi-pro pitcher for Wayne Delco, is the new Eastern hire for campus physician.

He replaces Dr. Margaret Mulligan, who served the community for over 13 years. While Mulligan is moving on to focus more fully on her private practice, Walker is settling into his new role with excitement.

“I’m looking forward to the types of students that Eastern attracts,” he said. “When you’re a family doctor like I am, you take care of [ages] zero to a hundred. Often times you’re with people 70 years old and they have 20 medications, and it takes them 10 minutes to walk in the door. That can burn you out if that’s all you do.”

Walker said he understands the kinds of issues facing college students, both physically and spiritually, and looks forward to the challenge.

“It’s a phase of growth in life that interests me,” he said. “It meant a lot to me personally.”

Walker grew up across the street from Eastern’s swimming pool, and his life has criss-crossed through campus over the years.

After a long season of working in the finance and printing industries, he came to Eastern for pre-med credits and was influenced toward medical school by Dr. David Bradstreet, professor of physical science and director of the Bradstreet Observatory at Eastern.

After a residency at Bryn Mawr Hospital, Walker jumped into a life so busy it makes one’s head spin.

Juggling not only relationships with his wife, four children and their family dog, he also works at Villanova, his private practice in Radnor, and still finds time to be the medical director at Valley Forge Military Academy.

Add to this his new four-days-a-week schedule at Eastern, and it’s hard to imagine that he has time for even a modest hobby, let alone semi-pro baseball.

“It’s not easy,” he said with a smile. “I work a lot of hours.”

But he said he enjoys the diversity, the nuances between different organizations and campuses.

And with his pending retirement from pitching 90-mile-an-hour fastballs for Wayne Delco, the oldest semi-pro league in the country, his schedule might open up a bit.

“I’m older and my kids are at an age where I feel like I need to devote more time to them, and I’m not getting better,” he admitted with a laugh. “I’ve hit my peak. When do you retire? Do you retire as you get kicked out the door or do you retire somewhat on top? I’ve just gone over the crest a little bit and maybe it’s time to do some other things.”

– Physicians’ hours are by appointment only: Monday & Thurs.10a-12p, Tuesday 1-3pm Wednesday 5-6pm

– The Suzanne Walton Student Health Center is located on the ground floor of Doane.

– Center hours during fall and spring semesters:

M, Tu, Fr 8:30am-4pm

Thurs 8:30am-6pm

Wed 10am-6pm

– Phone: 610-341-5955

– For female students who would prefer a female doctor, Dr. Laura Born is available by appointment at Dr. Walker’s family practice. Phone: (610) 688-8807. All Devon health insurance is accepted.