COM Outlook Winter 2019

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 29 different challenges than what I experienced at Des Moines University,” said Rose, who served as presi- dent of the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association in 1983–1984 and as president of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons in 1991. “I have gained so much learning from their backgrounds and experiences. The students are just one aspect of why I enjoy teaching at NSU-KPCOM. The other factor is the great faculty members and the camaraderie they provide,” he added. “In the courses I am involved with, I see tremendous cooperation and a team approach in order to train future doctors.” Because he has been so dedicated to his profession and his students, Rose has been amply honored for his numerous contributions and accomplishments. His overflowing list of accolades includes receiving the Physi- cian of the Year Award in 1991 from the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Society and being named a Guardian of the Profession in 2013 by the American Osteopathic Association. In 2015, Rose received the Orel F. Martin Medal—the highest honor awarded by the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons—to recognize his outstanding career as an osteopathic surgeon, edu- cator, and leader. In addition to lecturing at NSU, Rose serves as the academic director of the Larkin Community Hospital general surgery residency in South Miami and clinical professor of biomedical sciences at Larkin University in Miami. Although he has been an educator for more than 50 years, Rose’s passion for teaching current and future generations of physicians is one he says will never wane. “Seeing the development of each student I have met has been so rewarding—to watch them learn and develop into outstanding physicians. I think the additional reward has been personal in that, through my teaching, I continue to learn and pass on so much more of what modern medicine can offer,” Rose said. “As an aside, it probably has delayed Alzheimer’s disease, because I have to study so much more to keep up with what’s new in medicine and surgery.” Due to the close-knit relationships he develops with his students, and his years of experience in the medical field, Rose is uniquely qualified to address the challenges facing today’s medical stu- dents. “Future physicians have so many more chal- lenges than what I had in my career. The debt they are incurring to become physicians is most concerning. Certainly, this will be a big problem for many of them in this era of government regulation and physician employment compensation,” he explained. “The other major problem is keeping up with the rapid expansion of medical knowledge in this era of great technology, which has made it possible for unbelievable discoveries that have led to better care of our patients,” he added. “Lifelong learning will take on a completely new dimen- sion in the future.” Rose’s students also look to him for advice on how to deal with the rigors of medical school and beyond. “I tell them you have to love what you do, or it will destroy you. I have always stayed positive, and this has helped me through many difficult times. Additionally, I explain to them that, though you may love what you are doing, you still need to find balance in your life through family, hobbies, exercise, and good nutrition,” said Rose, a fitness aficionado who spent the Labor Day holiday in spin class pedaling for 150 minutes and racking up an impressive 56.2 miles on the odometer. “I have been blessed with a wonderful wife, six children, seven grandchildren, and two great- grandchildren. Without them, and the support I have received from them, I probably would not have accomplished half of my achievements,” he said. “I am so very grateful that I am still useful and will continue to teach as long as I can. During my career, I may have saved 100 lives as a surgeon. But through my teaching and mentoring, I may be responsible for saving many, many more.” † The students are just one aspect of why I enjoy teaching at NSU-KPCOM. The other factor is the great faculty members and the camaraderie they provide.” — Norman Rose continued from page 27