COM Outlook Summer/Fall 2019

12 | DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE “My mother received emer- gency treatment and management by a gynecologic oncologist in Miami on Easter weekend in 2013. I watched how the physician treated her with compassion, respect, and autonomy, all the while wearing several different hats for her. He was her surgeon, oncologist, primary care physician, confidant, and advocate,” Fiore Pfeiffer explained. “I marveled at the level of care she received, and it really affected me,” she added. “Although my decision to become a physician was made in early adulthood, my core ambition in life never changed. I wanted to bring hope to the hopeless and be the light for those in the dark. Medicine was ultimately my vehicle to do so, and I never looked back.” Because Fiore Pfeiffer had been an active student leader while attending Marywood University, she pursued similar opportunities at the KPCOM. “When I was accepted to NSU, not only did my primal leadership instinct kick in, but I also had a strong urge to give back to the college for letting me be part of the family, and for taking a chance on me,” she said. “After the first week of school, I was in awe of the intelligence, charm, and family-oriented personality of my classmates,” she added. “By the time Club Week rolled around, I had met several upperclassmen who were willing to talk to and educate me on their respective clubs and organizations. Soon after joining the class of 2019 Student Govern- ment Association (SGA), I felt as though I had found my niche.” Fiore Pfeiffer balanced her rigorous academic schedule with an enriching slate of extracurricu- lar activities, such as being involved with the national political osteopathic honor society Omega Beta Iota (OBI) and serv- ing as a KPCOM student ambassa- dor. Other activities included volunteering as an anatomy fellow, peer mentor, national mental health liaison, and a member of the Student Leadership Commit- tee. “The work of my incredible classmates and fellow SGA members really inspired me to keep working hard for something bigger than us,” she said. In an academic career rife with accomplishment, Fiore Pfeiffer points to her involvement with Omega Beta Iota as her proudest achievement. “I was introduced to OBI through Saamia Shaikh, one of my classmates and a fellow SGA member, who helped pave the way for others, including myself. I was elected to several executive board positions, most recently as national director, where I led the organization and worked with exemplary osteo- pathic students across the country who demonstrated a remarkable capacity for advocacy on behalf of our profession and patients,” she explained. “With the help of my executive board, we were able to increase our application numbers by almost 200 percent, and we saw great growth on a national scale with the help of our national partners, such as the American Association of Colleges of Osteo- pathic Medicine’s government relations team,” she added. “Creating a national newsletter for OBI also made me proud, as I was able to help set up a plat- form for students and members FAST FACTS ALIXANDRIA FIORE PFEIFFER, D.O. Hometown • Miami, Florida Leadership Highlights • creator and editor in chief of Omega Beta Iota national newsletter • member of the KPCOM Student Leadership Committee • national resident-physician adviser for Omega Beta Iota • national student leader for the National Osteopathic Student Caucus • parliamentarian for the KPCOM’s SGA Executive Board Residency Training • obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Texas—San Antonio KPCOM Kudos “NSU provided me with substantial and unique opportunities I sometimes thought were too good to be true, from presenting cervical cancer research at Yale University and introducing local high school students to medicine to treating hundreds of patients throughout Jamaica. Because of its prime location in South Florida, research reputation, and strong network of student leaders and alumni, the KPCOM was a perfect storm for my dreams. I will be forever grateful for what it gave me.” Words of Wisdom “Sometimes, it is so incredibly easy in this field to want to give up and not believe in yourself or your abilities. But, in time, everything just comes together. You must trust the process. Part of that takes perseverance and effort, part of that takes having the right influential people in your life, and, most importantly, part of it takes faith.” continued from page 11 PILLARS OF LEADERSHIP