Episode 89: Dr. Jeremy Ginoza, D.O. Poetry and Family Medicine; To Be or not to be. . .?

D.O. or Do Not: The Osteopathic Physician's Journey for Premed & Medical Students

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In April of 2022 the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic medicine or AACOM graciously invited the D.O. or do not podcast to attend their national meeting, “Educating Leaders” conference in Denver, Colorado. Our two producers, Lerone Cark, MS-II at the New York Institute of technology college of osteopathic medicine and Brooke Pillegi, MS-II at the Alabama college of osteopathic medicine, as well as Ben Berg, our pre-medical student liaison, attended the conference to continue our mission of promoting awareness of osteopathic medicine by interviewing leaders in the field.

We would like to thank Dr. Robert Cain, president of AACOM, Joseph Shapiro, director of media relations and Helene Cameron, Vice president of medical education services for having us at the conference and supporting the podcast. We had an amazing experience and would recommend the conference for any medical or pre-medical students interested in learning more about the inner workings of osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical education.

On this episode of D.O. or Do Not, we have Dr. Jeremy Ginoza, a family medicine physician and Attending at Skagit Regional Health Family Medicine Residency. In this episode, Dr. Ginoza shares his non-traditional path to medical school and his love for rural primary care. He dives into his own professional journey, beginning as the son of a minister, discussing the challenges and obstacles he’s faced along the way. He offers advice for future medical graduates who may be interested in applying to his program and shares his wisdom on how to navigate and prevail in the face of such a rigorous profession, finishing the interview with one of his original poems. Like his journey into medicine, this is a “non-traditional interview” that you will not want to miss.

Recommended Reading: The Social Transformation of American Medicine by Paul Starr

The Seed by Dr. Jeremy Ginoza

One day I planted a seed.

In a pot one day, I planted a seed.

Every morning I woke and I watered my seed,

and I waited and watched for my seed to sprout.

But I did not see my seed ever sprout.

Still every morning, I watched for my seed to sprout.

Then one day I woke, and I watered - a bud.

And every morning I waited and watched.

I waited and watched for my bud to blossom.

I did not see my bud ever blossom,

but I waited and watched for my bud to blossom.

Then one day I woke and I watered - a flower.

And every morning I waited and watched.

I waited and watched for my flower to fade.

I did not see my flower ever fade,

but I waited and watched for my flower to fade.

Then one day I woke and my flower I forgot.

I did not wait and I did not watch,

and I did not water my flower.

Then one day I woke and I watered - a pot.

And every morning I waited and watched.

I waited and watched for my pot to.....

and it was then that I remembered my seed.

And so then I went out to find a new seed,

and in my pot I planted the seed.

And every morning I wake and I water my seed.

Every morning I wake,

watching and waiting for my seed to sprout.