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Dwight Morejohn, Medical Device Engineer
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After running my own mechanical design-engineering
firm for 20 years, I became a medical device engineer, blending three
passions in my life: inventing and engineering, anatomy and physiology,
and 3-D illustration. I have worked extensively in the cardiovascular
arena, both in surgical and endovascular procedures, but have exposure
in neural, spinal and other fields. I am an inventor on at least 60
patents and do design-to-device prototype building in my home office
and shop. On occasion, a project will take me into the operating room
where I observe surgeries and work with practitioners for feedback
on new device designs. I am grateful to be able to use my gifts for
the benefit of others and am constantly humbled by the incredible design
of the human creature, especially when compared to my efforts to replace
of repair worn-out of diseased parts.
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Family and Personal Background:
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My wife Kate and I have been very happily married 32 years, we have four children and four grand kids;
Jennifer married Ed Nakamura and they now have Jonathan 4 yrs, Samantha 2.5 yrs, and Betsy almost 1 yr,
Joshua married Britta and they have Peter, 2 yrs, Justin married Sara, and Keturah will be a senior at
UCDavis this fall. Our whole family lives in Davis, Kate and I since college, and we all have been
long-time members of our local Christian church community where the Word is faithfully taught and we
live in the grace of the risen Christ and for his glory. We have way too many interests for a lifetime,
from trail-running, road and mountain bike riding, rowing to fly-fishing, knitting, old childrens books
and woodturning to reading great books, studying the sciences, photography, teaching kids about practical,
healthy and productive life and serving in the local community.
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Athletic Background:
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I have always loved the outdoors and much physical activity. I grew up
on a big ranch and began riding my Schwinn Varsity to high school in the
late 60’s. Cycling became my main sport as training for team sports conflicted
with my responsibilities to be home to milk the cows before dark. My wife and
I ran track at UCDavis, Kate making it to nationals in Texas in the mile relay.
I have been riding seriously for over 35 years with some long tours in the 70’s,
numerous centuries and the Davis Double in the 80’s and 90’s, along with
some great mountain biking. While I do occasinal centuries and tandem rides
with my wife, my favorite kind of riding is the purest kind in one sense,
all alone on a time trial or a hill climb, working at my limits with no one
else around. RAAM ‘06 with the 8-person Team Donate Life was definitely one
dream highlight of my cycling experiences and to be able to do it again is
just golden.
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Why are you involved in Team Donate Life?
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Numerous threads cross here: My love of cycling, my involvement in the medical world,
my long-time friendship with Dr. Ric Perez, transplant surgeon on this team, the opportunity
to see this great country from a bicycle along with grateful transplant recipients and donors
in our crew (the real TDL heroes) and to be given the opportunity to help raise the awareness
of ways that regular folks can donate life to hurting people by becoming involved in this
important and timely cause, even as simply signing up to donate organs when they die.
Most significant for me is to be able to be a part of a Christian team (all from our church,
Grace Valley Christian Center) where we have each received the greatest gift of life from
the One who made the greatest 'donation' of all.
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