Brian Bazzell ’11

To punch above one’s weight class—even for just “a bit.”

It’s a metaphor for those times when an athletic performance exceeds everyone’s expectations, even those of the athletes involved. And it’s the figure of speech Brian Bazzell uses to describe the end of the 2009–10 swim season.

“We finished fourth in the national championship,” he says, “the best finish in K history, and one of the best finishes for the MIAA in the national championship meet. It was special scoring in as many events as we did with such a small squad. Most of the other top teams had full rosters, but we punched above our weight a bit, and it was exhilarating.”

That team, which was inducted into the College’s hall of fame five years ago, finished second in the MIAA, a shy 17 points behind rival Hope. Brian is the fourth team member to be inducted into the hall of fame as an individual, and the double honor is fitting.

A four-year letter winner, Brian also was a three-time all-conference swimmer. He is one (of only 25) Hornet scholar-athletes in College history to win a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. During his four years in the pool, he earned All-American honors 18 times in seven events.

Brian majored in biology, earned a minor in statistics, and studied abroad in Bonn, Germany. His Senior Integrated Project occurred at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York City) where he researched one (among the many) intricate mechanisms by which immune system cells mobilize to fight infection.

After he graduated from K he completed his M.S. in physiology at the University of Michigan. “I thought I would pursue medicine or a Ph.D.,” Brian says, “but I became more interested in pharmacology.”

He completed his Pharm.D. at U of M’s College of Pharmacy and then residency training at the University of Michigan/Rogel Cancer Center.

Brian is currently a clinical pharmacist in the Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Cellular Therapy Clinic at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. He treats patients with blood cancers and has worked on projects to improve the effectiveness, safety, access and affordability of cancer medicines.

He is a member of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association and serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students, residents and physicians for several Michigan pharmacy schools and medical schools.

Brian lives in Ada, Michigan, with his wife (and biggest supporter), Collin Brummel ’11 and his two children, Elise (5) and Dorian (2). “K had a huge influence on me,” says Brian. “The K-Plan challenged me to always be curious and ask questions, to work hard, and to learn something new every day.”