A 46-year-old Ohio businessman inspired by the service of others is heading to medical school to become a doctor working in an urban setting.

Ive been inspired by the differences Ive seen other people make in the inner city, Bill Downing told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.

Pastors, doctors, nurses, social workers, urban pioneers. I felt I needed to invest the rest of my active career on a fulltime basis.

He will enroll at Cleveland State University in the fall in its new joint program with Northeast Ohio Medical University to provide doctors in underserved urban neighborhoods.

Rev. Duane Crabbs, who founded South Street Ministries in Akron with his wife, Lisa, 15 years ago, has worked with Downing for six years and calls him humble and a man of great integrity.

He understands that to impact in a substantial way there has to be a commitment to community, Crabbs said.

After graduating from Bowling Green State University, Downing began working full time at the familys Downing Enterprises in Copley Township near Akron. The company makes trade show exhibits and checkout counter displays.

Five years later, he enrolled at Harvard Business School and received a masters in business administration and now serves as chairman and CEO of the company.

A member of Grace Church in Bath, he began volunteering in urban Akron areas about 10 years ago. Thats how he met Crabbs and became active in his ministry.

About three years ago, Downing began thinking about a new career focused on helping those in the inner city.

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