Daring To Award Recipient

Being a young professional in a new town in rural western Pennsylvania has its challenges. Being one of only three women physicians (and the only osteopathic female physician) practicing inpatient medicine with the hospitalist group has another set of challenges. With a work schedule of seven days on, seven days off, teaching responsibilities with the family medicine residency, serving on the POMA Board of Trustees as representative for the young physicians in practice, caring for fur babies and renovating a home, one would think there is little to no time to meet people and contribute to the community. Enter the DuBois Jaycees.

The DuBois Jaycees is one of sixteen Pennsylvania chapters of an international organization made up of young professionals whose mission is “To empower young active citizens to create positive change through community service initiatives”. The DuBois Jaycees has supported blood drives, academic scholarships, community improvement projects, children’s programs, to name a few.

Kathryn Graham, D.O. joined the DuBois Jaycees when she moved to DuBois after completing her Internal Medicine residency and began working as a hospitalist at Penn Highlands Healthcare in 2018. She joined the Jaycees to “meet people and continue community involvement” which has been part of her life even before medical school. “Katie” sees the Jaycee’s biggest impact is “giving back to people in need”, particularly with scholarship awards and support of people with food insecurity and increased financial need around the holidays.

Around the World with Team USA

“It was a privilege to wear the USA colors” states William J. Kuprevich, Jr., DO, who served as the team physician for USA Women’s Basketball National team at the AmeriCup competition in Puerto Rico in September 2019. Team USA went 6-0, capturing the gold medal and advancing to the November 10th-19th, 2019 FIBA America tournament in Argentina.

While serving Team USA as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the Pacific Rim Games in San Diego in 2005, he worked with the USA Women’s and USA Men’s basketball teams. He also served as the Team USA CMO at the Paralympics in Torino, Italy in 2006, and the Pan American Games in Rio in 2007.  Dr. Kuprevich was asked to cover USA Women’s National basketball team at the World Championship event in Russia in 2007. After Russia, he covered more international events for the team, including competitions in Amsterdam, Cancun, Buenos Aires, Prague and Paris.

*Photo credit to USA Basketball.

Rice Foundation Medical Mission to Honduras Volunteer

by: Lisa Witherite-Rieg, DO

Meet “Pedro”. Pedro is a farmer in El Jaral, Honduras. He uses a machete to cut the canes that are processed into the sweet addition to so many things we enjoy without even considering where it originated. Pedro spends hours bent over, swinging the large blade, tying the canes and carrying the bundles. Pedro is a decade younger than me. He came to see me at the Rice Foundation outreach clinic complaining of “dolor de cabeza” or “brain pain” as my teenage interpreter explained to me.

When I inquired “How long?” the response was “Tres.” Three. That could mean three days, three weeks, three years. Time in El Jaral has little impact to a Honduran farmer who goes from season to season and field to field. A headache has a great impact, in productivity especially. Through our interpreter we figured out the pain had been for at least three months. Examination showed a normal neurological exam, but his osteopathic musculoskeletal examination had me wondering how this man was walking, let alone swinging a two foot long blade attached to a heavy wooden handle and carrying fifty pound bundles on his back from sunrise to sunset daily. I had prednisone and cyclobenzaprine available on our limited formulary, but I wanted, needed to DO more for him. 

The American Red Cross in Central Pennsylvania

by: Christopher Olson, DO

Shortly after we moved to Lewisburg in 1987 someone suggested I might be available to the Union County chapter of the American Red Cross as their medical advisor. When asked I happily agreed. I had supported the Red Cross for years with blood donations and monetary contributions, so I was happy to make my medical knowledge available to them locally. After a few years of attending board meetings, as the local chapter was looking to expand the board I said, “I come to the meetings anyway, why not make me a board member.” I have been on the board or an advisor ever since. The organization has changed over the years and I am now part of the North Central Pennsylvania chapter which covers most of POMA District 6.

In the early years I had little responsibility other than approving medical guidelines for use in situations such as disaster shelters.

I started giving blood again as I slowed my busy medical practice. I’m not sure how many gallons I have donated, at least 3 or 4. I have also given presentations to community organizations about the Red Cross mission and services.