Meet Team Iron Will

Catherine is the Co-Founder and Director of Team Iron Will, a non-profit created to help individuals with Down syndrome reach their God-given potential. She is a wife and the mother of eight children, including her youngest son, Will, who has Down syndrome and is the motivation behind Team Iron Will. Catherine has worked in Youth Ministry, Crisis Pregnancy Counseling, Pro-Life Family Advocacy and Educational Resource Development. After Will was born, Catherine redirected her passion for advocacy to focus on ensuring those with Down syndrome would be empowered, and valued at every stage of life.

Andrew is the Co-Founder of Team Iron Will, along with his wife, Catherine. He continually strives for success in his vocation as a husband and a father to eight children by incorporating a lifetime of experience and epiphanies. Andrew is a former U.S. Army Officer, currently serving in the security and risk management profession. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Saint Louis University, and a Master of Arts Degree in Management from Webster University. Andrew also holds multiple certifications and Instructor/Trainer ratings including Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), First Aid/CPR/AED/Bleeding Control, Active Shooter Threat, High-Risk Travel, Self-Defense, Security Engineering, Antiterrorism, and Crime Prevention - all of which supplement his efforts to develop Iron Will as a Tier 1 Operator.

Dr. Sheppard received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Drury College (University). She earned her Medical Degree from Saint Louis University. She then completed her internship and residency in Clinical Pathology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. She also completed her fellowship in Transfusion Medicine from Emory University. She has served as the Medical Director for the American Red Cross, Virginia Blood Services, and was an Associate Professor at University of Virginia in the Department of Pathology. She also served as the Facility Director of the Apheresis Stem Cell Collection Facility at UVA. Currently, she is a Medical Director for LifeShare Blood Services in Shreveport, Louisiana.  

Dr. Schwent received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Truman State University with honors. He earned his Medical Degree with honors from Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He then completed his internship and residency in Ophthalmology at Emory University School of Medicine. During his last year of residency, he was selected to serve as Chief Resident. He remained at the Emory Eye Center to complete a two-year fellowship in Vitreoretinal Surgery and Diseases. Upon completing his training, Dr. Schwent joined the faculty at Emory as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Schwent is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. His areas of expertise include retinal detachments, retinal vascular diseases, macular degeneration, macular surgery, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, and uveitis.

Michael is a student at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, studying Business Administration with a focus on Digital Marketing Strategies, etc. etc. etc...

John is a student at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, studying Business Administration with an emphasis on graduating...