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COM Outlook . Fall 2012
researching and not having much social
interaction, which I really enjoy.”
After earning her biochemistry degree, Dr.
LaCorte was uncertain of what lay ahead on
her professional pathway. “After graduation,
I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, so I
took a fun summer job where I worked as a
lifeguard, swim instructor, and counselor at
an aqua camp for children,” she said. “As part
of the job, I was required to get some EMT
training, which is what actually led me into
medicine. I thought ‘Oh I really like this, so this
is what I can I do. I can become a doctor.’”
Unlike her earlier pursuit of a physics
career, which turned out to be an ill-suited
choice, Dr. LaCorte wisely decided to take
her time before applying to medical school.
“
I didn’t want to make the same mistake, so
I took a job as a clinical laboratory assistant
at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and then
worked as a medical assistant at the Sansum
–
Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic in
the Department of Urology,” she explained.
“
I wanted to try different jobs in the medical
field before I chose a specific path.”
Fortunately for Dr. LaCorte, her bulb-
above-the head moment occurred while
working in the urology office. “I did a lot of
assisting and had the opportunity to watch
numerous surgeries. That was when I knew
what I wanted to do specialty-wise,” she
admitted. “Although most of our patients
were male, we did see a number of female
patients with bladder issues. And that’s
what enabled me to decide on pursuing a
career in obstetrics and gynecology.”
Romance Blooms as
Medical School Looms
As she plotted her career course, Dr. La-
Corte maintained a busy vocational schedule
that included working as a lifeguard in the
morning, a clinical research coordinator at
the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara during
the afternoon, and a bartender at a local
establishment called Harry’s at night. As luck
would have it, the bar would prove to be a
true good-luck charm for Dr. LaCorte both
personally and professionally.
During her stint at Harry’s, Dr. LaCorte fell
in love with a fellow bartender named Seth
Smith, who would go on to become her hus-
band in 2010. It was there where she also met
Daisy Green, D.O., a patron who would go on
to become a pivotal mentor on Dr. LaCorte’s
path to becoming an osteopathic physician.
“
She was the one who really encouraged me
to go to medical school,” Dr. LaCorte stated.
“
She allowed me to shadow her to gain some
experience and wrote a wonderful recommen-
dation letter on my behalf.”
When it came time to begin the medical
school applications process, Dr. LaCorte was
still a bit conflicted as she wavered between
several options, including attending an orien-
tal medicine college in Santa Barbara, M.D.
and D.O. colleges, and a chiropractic school.
So how did she eventually come to select
NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine? In
the final analysis, Dr. LaCorte said her deci-
sion to relocate to South Florida was based
on several key factors.
“
I was looking for two specific things:
global health outreach programs and an
opportunity to obtain an M.P.H. degree,” she
explained. “I applied to a number of M.D.
and D.O. schools, but in the end I narrowed
it down to NSU-COM and Michigan State.
My husband was the final decision maker
because he wanted to live in a warm place.”
As soon as Dr. LaCorte embarked on
her NSU-COM odyssey in 2007, she quickly
made a name for herself as a friendly,
compassionate, and hard-working student
leader, which is an area she never pursued
in her previous educational incarnations. “I
didn’t participate in any type of leadership
in high school or college,” said Dr. LaCorte,
who served as president of the NSU-COM
Student Government Association in 2009-
10
and did an extra year of study in the
Predoctoral Osteopathic Principles and
Practice Fellowship program. “I was a real
sports geek back then, but when I came to
NSU, I realized this is my chosen profes-
sion, so I decided to learn everything I could
and be very involved.”
To say she was involved is indeed an
understatement. During her five years at the
college, Dr. LaCorte immersed herself in a
multifaceted mix of activities that included
making numerous research presentations,
participating in various community service
projects, becoming a political activist on
Pictured (clockwise from left) are: Dr. LaCorte enjoying some time at the Lincoln Memorial
Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.; with her mom, Barbara, at a Greenpeace Rally; with god
sister Skye; with Dr. Anthony J. Silvagni at the 2007 White Coat Ceremony; a fresh-faced high
school graduate in 1998; sharing a hug with good friend Darcy at their high school graduation.
