COM Outlook - Winter 2016

College of Osteopathic Medicine 39 Tiffany Sizemore-Ruiz reviews the results of an echocardiogram. college’s history. “I feel now, looking back, that these early experiences with patients, even as a first-year student, helped to shape who I am as a physician today. Most allopathic schools do not offer any patient experience until the third year of medical school, and this bothered me. Also, I am a very hands-on type of learner, and I felt that NSU, and osteopathic medicine as a whole, fit my learning style.” For Ruiz, his exposure to an NSU-COM alumnus while he was pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Florida International University convinced him that NSU was going to be his medical school of choice. “I shadowed various physicians, including anatomical pa- thologists, family doctors, and emergency-room physicians, during my undergraduate training,” he explained. “It was during my experience in the ER where I met a proud NSU graduate, which prompted my interest in osteopathic medicine. His excitement for the D.O. profession was palpable, and his knowledge base was outstanding. That’s when I decided to attend NSU-COM. After I was extended an early acceptance offer, I immediately said yes to the fantastic opportunity.” Career Success Meets Personal Fulfillment After completing their residency training and exploring various employment opportunities, the D.O. dynamos made the bold decision to open their own practice, called Choice Physicians of South Florida, which offers a range of services that includes general internal medicine, concierge medicine, weight loss, sleep medicine consultations, and cardiology care. “Making the decision to open your own practice is not an easy one,” admitted Sizemore-Ruiz, who serves as president of the Fort Lauderdale/Miami chapters of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Board of Directors and teaches second-year students in NSU- COM’s Cardiovascular System course. “It’s funny, because people who do not have their own practices are pretty clue- less as to what is involved in them. There is at least a year’s worth of work—and about half of a medical school tuition— before the doors can even open. (Continued on next page) We met and worked together every day in our residency program, so it’s all we know. It’s not rainbows and butterflies all the time, but we work really well together in business and in marriage.” —Tiffany Sizemore-Ruiz, D.O. “