Former Stead Family Children's Hospital Patient Pays It Forward as a Hawkeye

PHOTO COURTESY WILL RYAN Hawkeye student-athlete Will Ryan reads to patients during story time as part of his volunteer commitment to UI Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital.

Will Ryan knew something wasn’t right.

As a sophomore at West Des Moines Dowling Catholic High School in 2019, Ryan developed a puffed-up lip and bloodshot eyes—and lost his appetite. After going to the emergency room, Ryan and his parents had more questions than answers.

“They thought I had a fatal illness,” says Ryan of the doctors in Des Moines. “When I heard that, I honestly thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I might die.’”

Referred to University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Ryan was diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated mucositis, an overactive immune response to an infection that caused Ryan to lose 15 pounds and develop sores on his nose, throat, and mouth.

“I was already a skinny cross-country runner; I didn’t have the weight to lose,” says Ryan, who missed the rest of his season to recover. “It was certainly an opportunity that was taken away from me, but it added fuel to the fire.”

During his final two years of high school, Ryan finished top 10 in the state and led his team to a state cross-country title. His performance propelled him to Iowa, where he’s now a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, four-year letter winner, and runs the 5,000- and 10,000-meter as a senior on the Hawkeye track and field team.

While Ryan has earned accolades as a reliable long-distance runner for Iowa, his dedication to volunteering with the Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic, UI Mobile Clinic, and Stead Family Children’s Hospital—inspired by his health journey—hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“When I was going through a lot of bad stuff as a patient, the bright spot was seeing student-athletes in the hospital,” says Ryan, who met former Hawkeye football defensive end Chauncey Golston (20BA) and basketball standouts B.J. Armstrong (89BA), Jordan Bohannon (20BA), and Joe Wieskamp (21BBA). “That gave me some great memories, and that’s why I volunteer as much as I can. I was in their shoes at one point, and I just want to give patients hope.”

In November, Ryan and women’s wrestling star Ava Bayless were selected as Iowa’s recipients of the Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award, which honors Big Ten student-athletes who positively impact their communities and excel in competition. Ryan also was one of 20 student-athletes recognized for their contributions outside of competition through the Allstate National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Good Works Team.

Ryan’s experiences at Iowa—as a patient and now as a student-athlete—have led him to pursue dental school this fall. “Much like volunteering at the children’s hospital, I hope to give patients confidence and strength as a dentist,” says Ryan. “I’ve seen how impactful a good doctor or dentist can be, and it’s something I’ve really found a passion for at Iowa.”