Beta Theta Pi Prepares Tim Stout '93 for Success

“I certainly support Beta Theta Pi as it provides young men with lifelong lessons and friendships, making the college experience so much more valuable.” –Tim Stout

 One of the unique and attractive features of Greek Life is that you can get as involved in the fraternity as you want. Tim Stout ’93 was one of those brothers who hit the ground running from the second he became a Beta Theta Pi pledge. 

 Having two parents who were Greek during their undergraduate careers, Tim followed his mother’s suggestion to explore what Beta was all about. After becoming familiar with the ideals of the fraternity, Tim was convinced that this was a place he belonged. “Once I realized there was a good mix of guys in Beta that had similar interests who were successful academically, athletically, and socially, I felt that was where I wanted to be,” Tim said. 

 Tim came to UMKC to pursue a degree in medicine and wanted to be sure that he established his grades before attempting the pledge process. After he had a semester under his belt, Tim became a pledge of Beta Theta Pi along with some of his med school classmates. “I have many fond memories of pledgeship, but mainly the camaraderie we shared during the experience stands out,” Tim said.

 Throughout his time as an active, Tim served in many different leadership positions within the fraternity. Beginning by working with the very next pledge class after his, he worked his way through many other roles including VP of House Affairs and the creation of the Sisson Award application, which the chapter won the following summer. Soon after Tim was elected President, a time that coincided with the moving of the chapter house from a temporary location to a new on-campus chapter house. After his term of President had concluded, he served as the first Risk Manager as well as the Greek Week Chapter Delegate. Tim added, “I also was honored to be chosen as the guide for a ceremonial initiation held at the Midwest Beta conclave requiring me to recite the entire dialogue from memory.”
 
 While each of his leadership terms appeared to pass with ease, he pointed out that it wasn’t always smooth sailing. “I learned by trial and error how to work with the elected leadership of the house as well as the actives and alumni advisors to try and create a good place for the brothers to live and have fun within the framework mandated by the university,” Tim said. 

 Dealing with such a wide range of ages and personalities can be difficult, but Tim learned from each of those experiences and still references them to this day. “The lessons learned in how to participate with a group of guys to accomplish a common goal as well as learning leadership skills were greatly beneficial as a physician in a group practice as well as being a husband and father,” he said. “I also learned about
diversity and understanding, how a group of people can have varying beliefs, backgrounds, and values much different from my own yet realizing we still could get along and work together towards a common goal.”

 All of this was accomplished while being enrolled in UMKC’s six-year medical program which Tim graduated from in 1995 and began a one-year internship at Truman Medical Center in transitional medicine. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Kansas and was honored to receive the Alan C. Reilly Resident of the Year Award, serving as Chief Resident in his final year of residency. “Once I finished there in 1999, I pursued a two-year fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery in Lexington, KY and then joined Discover Vision Centers in Kansas City in August 2001 where I currently practice,” Tim said. 

 With so much dedication to the fraternity and such a rigid course load throughout all his years of school, it’s amazing that Tim had any time for himself. However it was at a Beta party in 1991 that he met Shawna who would eventually become his wife. Being introduced by a mutual friend who was a sorority sister of Shawna and girlfriend (now wife) of fraternity brother Cameron Hodges ‘93, the couple was married in 1995. Together they have two children, Cade (8) and Kaitlyn (5).

 Tim feels it’s incredibly important to support the chapter even after the undergraduate days are over because of the bond he still feels to the fraternity. “Maintaining contact with Beta is important to give back to the organization that provided all of us with so many great opportunities and relationships,” he said. 

 His advice for the current chapter is to “enjoy the moment and make the most of your opportunities. Maintain and continue your friendships with your brothers and continue the standard of excellence that Beta Theta Pi represents not only in the Epsilon Lambda chapter at UMKC but nationwide.”

 We commend Tim for his continued dedication to Beta Theta Pi and appreciate all that he has given to the fraternity both past and present.