FALL 2022

Ignite Magazine

The eXperience Factor

by John T. Langell, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
President, Northeast Ohio Medical University

Several of the transformational leaders in this issue are NEOMED alumni who point to our University as the place where they fell in love with their future spouse, their fields of medicine or both. Of course, NEOMED’s health professionals hail from other places as well, but they tell a similar story: That it was during medical school that they became passionate about someone or something. Before medical school, each already held a desire to help people, and while many didn’t know it then, they now recognize pivotal moments and experiences throughout their academic and professional careers that led them to where they are now.

NEOMED president John Langell Gary Pinta, M.D., knew it. During his clinical experiences at NEOMED, he realized he wanted to practice primary care. He also wanted to make a name for himself and own a business. But it wasn’t until he reached a point of vulnerability as a physician that he could trust his instincts that all three could intersect.

For some health professionals, pivotal moments occur even earlier. James Kravec, M.D., felt a calling to serve others when he was just a high school student who was given the opportunity to shadow some physicians.

Tom Vo, M.D., confesses to not being at the top of his medical student class. But his emotional intelligence was high, and he learned that his affinity for helping others was sharpened as he interacted with others, saw what pressed their buttons and understood what made them happy.

Being the first from your specialty to practice or teach across disciplines can present its own dilemmas as you – and others – question what you are doing. Michelle Cudnik, Pharm.D., describes the life of an “Interprofessionalist.”

Inquiry, learning and practice— all play a huge role in building upon experiences to be able to do all you can to help. In “My Gracious,” Petrea Cober, Pharm. D., comes to the realization that when all that you can do isn’t good enough and the worst experience of them all occurs, “You have to know that there is nothing that you have not tried or done to help that patient get better.”

Experiences teach us a lot, but we won’t always be happy with the outcomes.

Explaining why he chose his specialty, Tom File, M.D., an infectious disease expert who’s been practicing for 50 years, says, “A lot of what we do has to do with mentorship and the inspiration we’ve had from people with whom we’ve worked.” He thought he’d pursue family medicine, but he became inspired by the very first fellow resident he met who happened to be focused on infectious disease. “I thought it was a very intriguing field as you can actually cure patients the majority of times,” said Dr. File.

The joy of healing those who need our help is what drives our passion to serve, but it is our experience that shapes how we do it.

Petrea Cober

My Gracious
The expression “my gracious” — a combination of concern and knowledge wrapped in a blanket of hope and kindness — aptly describes the work of Petrea Cober, Pharm.D.
James Kravec

The Doctor in the City of YOU
James Kravec, M.D., is helping to lead the resurgency in his hometown of Youngstown.
Tom Vo

Scaling Innovation and Manifesting Happiness
Tom Vo, M.D., is building Nutex Health in a way that extends its physicians' careers by 10-15 years.
Thomas File

Mentors and Moments
For Tom File, M.D., the path to an esteemed career in infectious diseases was lit by mentors and moments.
Michelle Cudnik

The Interprofessionalist
Michelle Cudnik, Pharm. D., BCACP, shares her best interprofessional experience ever.
Gary Pinta

The Pricelessness of Primary Care
When the president of Pioneer Physicians Network, Gary Pinta, M.D., talks about his practice, he first stresses his physician-owners’ “passion for primary care.”