COM Outlook Spring 2019

30 | DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE Mary Nocero Scanlon, D.O., grew up near Orlando in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and knew from an early age that a career in medicine was her vocational destiny. You might even say it is in her blood, since her father is still a practicing physician in Orlando, while her grandfather on her dad’s side was a family practice physician in New York who made house calls. “My father is a renowned cardiologist, and when- ever I met his colleagues, they would always ask if I was going to follow in my dad’s footsteps,” explained the 2000 KPCOM alumna, who said a family tragedy nudged her closer to becoming a physician. “I remem- ber being called home one day because my grandfather on my mom’s side was very ill. My dad took care of him at the hospital, but he died from a blood clot. I was young at the time, but I was deeply affected by the situation and wanted my dad to find a way to save him.” It was during her elementary school biology class that Scanlon’s budding interest in medicine deepened. “I loved my science classes and my wonderful female grade school teachers, who taught me that women could do anything in this world, including in the medical field,” said Scanlon, who also credits her parents for lovingly nurturing her and her two younger sisters. “My dad always told us we could do anything we wanted in life,” said Scanlon of her father’s prophetic words. While she went on to become a physician, her sisters pursued a different professional path and became lawyers. Thanks to her supportive home and school environs, Scanlon was emboldened to adopt a sky’s-the-limit approach to life and medicine. “I shadowed my dad at his office and saw how his relationships with his patients were more than just making sure their hearts were working well. It was about taking care of the whole person,” she explained. A Detour Into Teaching After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, Scanlon made a few interesting detours on her way to attend- ing medical school. “I decided I wanted to do some research, so I went to Boston College for my master’s in biology,” said Scanlon, who also enjoyed working as a teaching assistant during this time. Because Scanlon found the teaching experience so gratifying, she put her medical school plans on hold again to earn a Master of Education from Boston College and spend two fulfilling years as a biology teacher at Lexington High School in Massachusetts. Although she loved teaching, Scanlon said she never lost sight of her original plan. “I knew I wanted to return to Florida and attend medical school, so I applied to Nova Southeastern University because I liked the D.O. approach,” said Scanlon, who began her studies at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM) in the summer of 1996. It was during her third- and fourth-year clinical rotations, however, when her affinity for family medicine came into focus. “I was able to do my rotations at Wellington Re- gional Medical Center in Wellington, Florida, which is where I met Drs. David Simon, Joanna Widdows, and Eddie Velasquez. I loved how they took care of their patients with a combination of care and Mary Scanlon Life Experiences Instill Compassionate Approach to Patient Care BY SCOTT COLTON, B.A., APR ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT ALUMNI Spotlight “Through thick or thin, one day at a time, I will always be there for my patients, as well as my friends and family.” —Mary Scanlon, D.O.