Page 28 - COM Outlook - Spring 2013

his faculty role especially fulfilling because of
the all-important mentorship aspect. “Train-
ing the next generation of physicians is one
of the best things one can do for society,”
said Dr. Hasty, who has been a faculty
member since 2005. “Every day, I have the
pleasure of knowing I am making a signifi-
cant difference in training the next genera-
tion of caring and expert physicians.”
The D.O. Difference:
Why I Became an
Osteopathic Physician
Dr. Paula
Anderson-Worts
“I knew at an
early age I wanted
to be a doctor.
After completing
my undergradu-
ate education,
my initial goal was just to be a physician.
My desire was to practice medicine that
provided primary care and focused on pre-
vention and indigent care. I also wanted to
stay in Florida, so I applied to three Florida
allopathic medical schools and SECOM—
the only osteopathic program in Florida at
the time. Although I was exposed to D.O.s,
it was not until I started the medical school
application process that I really focused on
what distinguished M.D.s from D.O.s. I really
feel it was all part of God’s master plan. I
started to realize the osteopathic philosophy
was more in line with my view of the type of
medicine I wanted to practice.”
Dr. Robert
Hasty – “I had a
calling to become
a physician
later than most.
I began college
as an economics
major. Fueled by
positive reinforcement from great success
in my undergraduate studies, I began to feel
confident that I would succeed in whatever
I might endeavor. At the same time, I felt a
desire to do something with my life where I
would do something significant for the great-
er good. A well-timed conversation with a
friend’s mother (who was a seasoned nurse)
about the benefit to mankind that health
care providers make, particularly regarding
physicians, was enough to ignite my passion
to become a physician. Several years later,
I was introduced to osteopathic medicine
by a mutual friend of the late Matthew Terry,
D.O. I then met with Morton Terry, D.O.,
the founder of NSU’s Health Professions
Division, who was interested in having me
matriculate through NSU-COM. He gave
me insight into the opportunities and unique
qualities of osteopathic medicine. This
clinched my choice, which has been one of
the best decisions of my life.”
Dr. Victor Jaffe
“I decided to
become an osteo-
pathic physician
because I believe
in the philosophy
of mind, body,
and spirit. I
wanted to be able to put that philosophy
into practice with patients on a daily basis.
I also wanted to have multiple and different
treatment modalities to treat patients for
their underlying pathology. Also, the expe-
rience I had growing up and going to an
osteopathic physician who was extremely
patient-centered and honestly listened to
what I had to say as a patient leaned me
toward osteopathic medicine.”
Dr. Ken Johnson
“I had the extreme
pleasure of going
to Florida State
University with
a member of
SECOM’s charter
class—William
Kirsh, D.O. Bill was the student liaison to
Governor Bob Graham in Tallahassee, and
he invited me to his office in the capital
building. At that time, Bill showed me the
plans to the new school where Dr. Morton
Terry would open the first osteopathic
medical school in Florida. Bill encouraged
me to consider applying after my Air Force
commitment, and I did. I studied the unique
aspects of osteopathic medicine for the next
seven years and fell in love with the holistic
aspects of the profession.”
Dr. Nadine
Chipon Schoepp
“At the age of 16,
I was involved as
the passenger
of a rollover car
accident. Fol-
lowing numer-
ous surgeries and months of recovery, my
orthopedic surgeon became my mentor. I
started shadowing her and fell in love with
the profession. Waking up every morning
with the ability to help and care for oth-
ers is a true blessing. Now, six years after
graduating medical school, I cannot imagine
doing anything else.”
Dr. Jacqueline
Thomas – “During
my youth, I did not
know there was a
difference between
osteopathic and
allopathic physi-
cians. I thought all
physicians treated the body as a whole and
treated the whole person. I was fortunate
enough to be exposed to M.D.s who treated
people with a D.O. approach. It wasn’t until I
was applying to medical schools that I even
learned there were two different philosophies
and two different degrees. At that time, I dis-
covered there was another tool— osteopathic
manipulation—which could be used to help
patients, and I wanted to learn it.”
Dr. Jill Wallace-
Ross – “I specifi-
cally wanted to be
an osteopathic
physician because
I wanted the ability
to do manipula-
tion, to have the
additional tool set to treat my patients with
those techniques and methodologies.”
28 COM Outlook . Spring 2013