Page 41 - COM Outlook - Spring 2013

41 COM Outlook . Spring 2013
Pinellas County. Our group sees patients at
many more facilities throughout Pinellas,
Hillsborough, and Pasco counties. My
major enjoyment comes from watching
my patients recover from their short-term
rehab and overcome their debilities and
then being discharged home.
I had been in private practice for about
14 years when I was approached with
an opportunity to join the group family
medicine practice under Vincent DiLella,
D.O., in 2010. I was quite concerned about
how I would be able to continue to run my
solo practicewith all the questions lingering
at the time about health care reform. This
opportunity allowed me to continue my
hospital practice, continue teaching our
future colleagues in postgraduate medical
education, and grow with the osteopathic
medicine organizations I have always
supported. It was probably the most
difficult decision I ever made to give up my
private practice, but in retrospect it was
the happiest decision I ever made since
my practice is thriving and I am challenged
by how much more it can grow. The most
rewarding part of my career is how many
patients from my old private practice still
drive 40 minutes north through suburban
traffic to remain my patient—a loyalty
which still humbles me.
What has been the most fulfilling
aspect of being a physician? Making
an impact in someone’s life.
Has there been a specific case that
truly made you appreciate the reason
you became a physician? If so, please
provide some specific details. Years
ago, one of my patients askedmy office staff
if I would see her son, who normally visited
his pediatrician. He was having abdominal
pain and nausea and not improving.
She called his pediatrician and received
a response from a service telling her to
continue to give him his ranitidine and
come back to the office as planned a week
later. I saw this patient with my resident
that same day.
When I walked into the exam room, he
was lying in a fetal position with obvious
discomfort. He clearly had the signs
of an acute abdomen issue, which his
pediatrician not only didn’t find, but more
importantly, didn’t allow the opportunity
to detect since the patient was not given
the chance to go back to the pediatrician’s
office. We called EMS and had the boy
transferred to the local children’s hospital.
He was diagnosed with acute peritonitis
from a ruptured appendix, placed on IV
antibiotics for about a week, and then
brought back during his school spring
break for an elective appendectomy after
his infection calmed down. He stopped
following with his pediatrician and stayed
in my practice for years to follow.
I have shared this story with many house
staffmembers onmy servicewhen his family
comes in since the learning message is so
clear: If a patient isn’t getting better, don’t
ignore the symptoms. It’s important to take
another look since the exam could change
and you can see the problem more clearly.
What personal and professional
achievements are you the proudest
about? My proudest achievement is being
able to fall in love with the most wonderful
wife a person can share his life with and
raise such a wonderful son. I hope I can
inspire my son to follow his dreams much
the same way my parents inspired me.
What goals are you looking to
achieve as the incoming president of
NSU-COM’s Alumni Association, and
why are you so willing to give back to
the college in this manner? I hope to
inspire my colleagues to continue to serve
our profession, students, and each other in
a way similar to how our mentors inspired
us to remain involved. I remember my days
in medical school when I served as the
editor of the Signs and Symptoms school
newspaper and joined my colleagues
in getting involved in many activities
and organizational functions while in
school. To this day, I continue to serve
as the current president of the Florida
Society of the American College of Family
Physicians, a past president of the Pinellas
County Osteopathic Medical Society, a
trustee of the Florida Osteopathic Medical
Association, and serve on committees as
local as my community hospital to the
national ACOFP. I hope to inspire my fellow
alumni to stay involved with each other
just as we did when we were in school
since this fellowship is part of what makes
our profession so special.
Dr . Andrew Gross
“The most memorable aspect of my medical school education was the people
around me. The professors had a true love to teach and possessed a desire to see
us do well.” Dr. Andrew Gross