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COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014
ome of us know early in our lives the person we
want to be. We choose our paths and forge ahead,
demonstrating an amazing ability to strive and suc-
ceed. Jennifer Wellington, D.O., a class of 2014 gradu-
ate, is a fine example of that special individual who has a
dream and perseveres to realize it.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Wellington grew up in
South Florida with family members close by. Her lov-
ing grandparents sparked and nurtured her interest in
health care. “I decided to become a doctor at the age
of six,” she said. “My family isn’t full of doctors; in fact,
my parents never finished college. My grandfather—a
Cuban-Spanish trained surgeon—and my grandmother—a
retired nurse—have been my guiding light, and it was my
parents’ hard work and encouragement that helped shape
me into who I am today.” After attending high school lo-
cally, she went to Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where
the College of Biological Sciences pioneered a medical
Portrait of the Power of Perseverance:
Dr. Jennifer Wellington
externship program that allowed undergraduates to join
physicians in the community to shadow and experience
what it meant to practice medicine.
“I shadowed every kind of physician I could find and de-
cided that medicine was what I was born to do,” she said.
Meeting V. Alin Botoman, M.D., FACG, FACP, a gastroenter-
ologist who has been her mentor for nine years, further en-
couraged her interests and skills toward a life in medicine.
Dr. Wellington’s pursuit of many clinical research projects
fed her fascination for the field of gastroenterology.
Once she completed her FAU education, Dr. Welling-
ton followed an untraditional road to earn a spot in medi-
cal school. “After many unsuccessful attempts and unbe-
lievable heartache, I was lucky enough to be accepted into
the Master of Biomedical Sciences program at NSU—my
last attempt at making my childhood dream of becoming
a physician come true,” she said. The unique program
allows students to take the first-year basic science curricu-
S
By Debra R. Gibbs, B.A.
Medical Communications Coordinator
