February 5, 2025 • 11 mins
Host: Kathleen Spinazzola
Guest: Dr. Teresa Hunter-Pettersen, MD, Institutional Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and an Associate Professor of Medical Education
Dr. Hunter-Pettersen discusses her 20-year tenure at LECOM, starting in 2004. She highlights her journey, including her role as a patient representative at the VA and her transition to LECOM. She emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, noting LECOM's commitment to creating an environment of oneness. She shares her admiration for historical figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and stresses the sacredness of the medical profession, urging students to approach their roles with respect and humility.
Listen In!
Thanks for listening to this episode of LECOM Presents: Heroes In Training
________
Please visit LECOM.edu for to learn more about the educational opportunities available at our institution.
Guest: Dr. Teresa Hunter-Pettersen, MD, Institutional Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and an Associate Professor of Medical Education
Dr. Hunter-Pettersen discusses her 20-year tenure at LECOM, starting in 2004. She highlights her journey, including her role as a patient representative at the VA and her transition to LECOM. She emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, noting LECOM's commitment to creating an environment of oneness. She shares her admiration for historical figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and stresses the sacredness of the medical profession, urging students to approach their roles with respect and humility.
Listen In!
Thanks for listening to this episode of LECOM Presents: Heroes In Training
________
Please visit LECOM.edu for to learn more about the educational opportunities available at our institution.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
You're listening to lee KOM presents Heroes in Training. The
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, also known as lee COM,
has been providing training to heroes all across the globe
since nineteen ninety three. This podcast gives you an insider
look at the stories of triumph and hope from both
(00:22):
former students and faculty, helping you decide if lee COM
is the right choice for your higher education. Let's start
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Welcome, doctor Hunter Paterson, and thanks so much for speaking
with me today. I appreciate the time.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
And doctor you are the LEECOM Director of Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion. And am I right that you have been
with LEECOM for upwards of twenty years?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
It's yes, that is true, and time does buy. Yeah.
I started in two thousand and four and I've been
steadily working with our student community at we Come for
that long. It's been a blessing. It's remarkable.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Can you talk to us a little bit about you've
achieved so much in this journey. Can you talk to
us a little bit about all of the different steps
you've been on through the way.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Well, Miss Benasola. I would like to say one doesn't
achieve anything without the accompaniment of others. And my journey
started outside of WECOM. Before we come actually broke ground,
I had the bounty and the pleasure of meeting doctor
Sylvia Faretti at the VA Hospital, and at that time
(01:48):
I held the first in audible position for patient representative
at the VA. And then I moved on to continue
my medical education and to work in other areas in
the community, and eventually I was invited to work at
LEACOM in two thousand and four. So there I started
(02:08):
to have the opportunity to learn about certain curriculums and
the pathways through clinical education. And at that time I
was graced with doctor Augustini, who was a department head
at the time, and we did a lot of ad
mid work, clinical adment work for the students, you know,
(02:30):
looking at the rotations, actually meeting about their performances through
their clinical preceptors. And I discovered that there were many
interesting pathways that LECOM offered medical students. It was the
first osteopathic medical school in northwestern Pennsylvania, and that in
(02:52):
itself is an outstanding achievement. I've already since my background
has been pathic. I've always respected the art of osteopathic
manipulation and valued that as an individual as another option
to give other people. So through the years I sort
(03:13):
of a moodelated my thinking, my velocity, and the opportunity
to work for such an institution at that time, and
I saw it as a blessing and still do. And
I learned primarily about PBL through the clinical Education department,
when I started reading several clinical preceptors actually saying I
(03:37):
cannot believe this is a third year medical student. They
know their mechanisms so well, and I thought, what is BBL?
Never thought that I would be off at the opportunity
to come to Bradington, Florida, which had just really opened.
I was getting going by the time I had arrived
in two thousand and seven, and I joined the faculty,
(04:00):
having had a medical training from my foreign medical education,
which I have put aside and went to the clinical
admin to raise my family, and in doing so, after
my husband's past passed away, which was quite sudden, I
was offered to come down here, which was like a
(04:22):
breath of fresh air. I cannot tell you what a
blessingness has been, and through the years, the faculty and
the administration over time coddled me and worked with me
and trained me and nurtured me, and therefore I was
able to give back. So I represent all of that
(04:44):
effort to this day. I do not stand here alone.
You don't see them, You don't know how many people
are behind all the support. But yes, yes, my family
and myself benefited from this experience. And I know as
I usual to be in an organization for that long.
But when you're passionate about something and you feel devoted
(05:07):
to it, and you want to see people succeed and
profession you've always admired and loved, it doesn't get better
than that.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Ready to expand your career opportunities and take a leadership
role as a Master's trained healthcare administrator LEECOM and industry
leader and whole person Wellness offers an innovative, fully accredited
and nationally ranked Masters and Health Services Administration degree through
leecom's School of Health Services Administration. Experiential learning focuses critical
(05:38):
business skills needed to resolve even the most complex industry
challenges surrounding quality of patient centered care and organizational compliance.
It is delivered through a dynamic online learning platform so
you can work on your studies when your schedule permits.
Email Shsa at leekcom dot edu to begin your journey
of discovery again. That's Shsa at leekcom dot EEDU classes
(06:02):
are now forming at leecom. We know wellness and we
are teaching the business of healthcare. This message is brought
to you by Leacom, a nonprofit organization.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
It's remarkable You've had a remarkable career and comendous accomplishments
that we're lucky to have you.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
I phily all the way around. I feel all the
way around.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
As we celebrate Rock History Month for the month of February, doctor,
do you do you have any personal stories you could
share or is there are there any historical figures that
you take inspirations from? The problem you could sail with us.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
We all take inspiration from outstanding human beings. And you
know when I was raised, I was raised we should
love one another and care about each other. And looking
at human history, you know none of us are proud
of the negative things that have happened or occurred to
(07:02):
many groups of people. And looking at Black history, that
said historical account of how humans treated humans and that
the ramifications are generations into the future. It makes me
stop and think about how there have been individuals throughout
(07:23):
history who have been inspired to find the right words
to uplift us from all of that. Black History Month
is one of such months, of many months, of many
cultures that speaks to humanity about the African American historical
account of how they arrived to the States and how
they've been treated, and then how they are continuing to
(07:47):
unravel from that dark and negative past. But my thinking
is this is the opportunity for us human beings to
recognize how we have treated each other and to work
together to uplift ourselves. So finding that language gives us
(08:08):
impotence and Black History Month to speak these truths about
ourselves and use these opportunities of our past to raise
us all up. So I do have, you know, admiration
for people like doctor Martin Luther King Junior. That took
a lot of courage to do what he did, but
(08:29):
I'm sure he was inspired, you know, and we are
lucky to be in his shadow at this time in
human history. So that's how I would answer that.
Speaker 5 (08:42):
For our students, you know, our room for diversity aquadumclusion
is the creating environment of oneness of humomity as well.
So yess the sort of core muscles that are students
allow or perspective students that will problem then they know
(09:07):
from equivalent to that.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
I think, well, our students have to realize that this
profession that they're entering into is one of the sacred sacredness.
And when you put something in in that frame of reference,
that gives one pause to think, well, what does that
mean and what is my responsibility regarding how I handle
(09:32):
myself and how I will handle others. So this humble
posture of learning is consistent throughout life, and that when
you look at a human being, you must realize that
that soul is a sacred person, that it's nothing haphazard
about them. Mind, body, and spirit is truly what they
(09:53):
have to connect with and latching. You know, the first
year students come in and they're in awe and they're
overwhelmed with their schedule, and we happen to be doing
a one on one and clinical exam skills, and they
bring opp into clinical exam skills and we have a
standardized patient. We get to look at them and coddle
(10:15):
them with that in mind, regardless of where they come
from or what their religious practices have been, whether they're
whatever their gender is, that's not important. The fact that
they are given a bountiful opportunity to work with people
on that level. It's very sacred. It's not something to
be overlooked or or mishandled in any way, and we
(10:39):
as faculty have to represent them and model it for them.
Level yes, yes, yes, and respect each other. There's so
many levels. It's just incredible, overwhelming.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
M Well, welcome, poblism. I couldn't be more grateful for
your time till Thank.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
You, welcome, You're welcome. Thank you for calling upon me
and inviting me to talk to you. It's been a pleasure.
It's been a pleasure. It's your hiring for Thank you.
You're welcome. Have a good day too, most of the soon. Okay,
bye bye bye
You're listening to lee KOM presents Heroes in Training. The
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, also known as lee COM,
has been providing training to heroes all across the globe
since nineteen ninety three. This podcast gives you an insider
look at the stories of triumph and hope from both
(00:22):
former students and faculty, helping you decide if lee COM
is the right choice for your higher education. Let's start
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Welcome, doctor Hunter Paterson, and thanks so much for speaking
with me today. I appreciate the time.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
And doctor you are the LEECOM Director of Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion. And am I right that you have been
with LEECOM for upwards of twenty years?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
It's yes, that is true, and time does buy. Yeah.
I started in two thousand and four and I've been
steadily working with our student community at we Come for
that long. It's been a blessing. It's remarkable.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Can you talk to us a little bit about you've
achieved so much in this journey. Can you talk to
us a little bit about all of the different steps
you've been on through the way.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Well, Miss Benasola. I would like to say one doesn't
achieve anything without the accompaniment of others. And my journey
started outside of WECOM. Before we come actually broke ground,
I had the bounty and the pleasure of meeting doctor
Sylvia Faretti at the VA Hospital, and at that time
(01:48):
I held the first in audible position for patient representative
at the VA. And then I moved on to continue
my medical education and to work in other areas in
the community, and eventually I was invited to work at
LEACOM in two thousand and four. So there I started
(02:08):
to have the opportunity to learn about certain curriculums and
the pathways through clinical education. And at that time I
was graced with doctor Augustini, who was a department head
at the time, and we did a lot of ad
mid work, clinical adment work for the students, you know,
(02:30):
looking at the rotations, actually meeting about their performances through
their clinical preceptors. And I discovered that there were many
interesting pathways that LECOM offered medical students. It was the
first osteopathic medical school in northwestern Pennsylvania, and that in
(02:52):
itself is an outstanding achievement. I've already since my background
has been pathic. I've always respected the art of osteopathic
manipulation and valued that as an individual as another option
to give other people. So through the years I sort
(03:13):
of a moodelated my thinking, my velocity, and the opportunity
to work for such an institution at that time, and
I saw it as a blessing and still do. And
I learned primarily about PBL through the clinical Education department,
when I started reading several clinical preceptors actually saying I
(03:37):
cannot believe this is a third year medical student. They
know their mechanisms so well, and I thought, what is BBL?
Never thought that I would be off at the opportunity
to come to Bradington, Florida, which had just really opened.
I was getting going by the time I had arrived
in two thousand and seven, and I joined the faculty,
(04:00):
having had a medical training from my foreign medical education,
which I have put aside and went to the clinical
admin to raise my family, and in doing so, after
my husband's past passed away, which was quite sudden, I
was offered to come down here, which was like a
(04:22):
breath of fresh air. I cannot tell you what a
blessingness has been, and through the years, the faculty and
the administration over time coddled me and worked with me
and trained me and nurtured me, and therefore I was
able to give back. So I represent all of that
(04:44):
effort to this day. I do not stand here alone.
You don't see them, You don't know how many people
are behind all the support. But yes, yes, my family
and myself benefited from this experience. And I know as
I usual to be in an organization for that long.
But when you're passionate about something and you feel devoted
(05:07):
to it, and you want to see people succeed and
profession you've always admired and loved, it doesn't get better
than that.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Ready to expand your career opportunities and take a leadership
role as a Master's trained healthcare administrator LEECOM and industry
leader and whole person Wellness offers an innovative, fully accredited
and nationally ranked Masters and Health Services Administration degree through
leecom's School of Health Services Administration. Experiential learning focuses critical
(05:38):
business skills needed to resolve even the most complex industry
challenges surrounding quality of patient centered care and organizational compliance.
It is delivered through a dynamic online learning platform so
you can work on your studies when your schedule permits.
Email Shsa at leekcom dot edu to begin your journey
of discovery again. That's Shsa at leekcom dot EEDU classes
(06:02):
are now forming at leecom. We know wellness and we
are teaching the business of healthcare. This message is brought
to you by Leacom, a nonprofit organization.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
It's remarkable You've had a remarkable career and comendous accomplishments
that we're lucky to have you.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
I phily all the way around. I feel all the
way around.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
As we celebrate Rock History Month for the month of February, doctor,
do you do you have any personal stories you could
share or is there are there any historical figures that
you take inspirations from? The problem you could sail with us.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
We all take inspiration from outstanding human beings. And you
know when I was raised, I was raised we should
love one another and care about each other. And looking
at human history, you know none of us are proud
of the negative things that have happened or occurred to
(07:02):
many groups of people. And looking at Black history, that
said historical account of how humans treated humans and that
the ramifications are generations into the future. It makes me
stop and think about how there have been individuals throughout
(07:23):
history who have been inspired to find the right words
to uplift us from all of that. Black History Month
is one of such months, of many months, of many
cultures that speaks to humanity about the African American historical
account of how they arrived to the States and how
they've been treated, and then how they are continuing to
(07:47):
unravel from that dark and negative past. But my thinking
is this is the opportunity for us human beings to
recognize how we have treated each other and to work
together to uplift ourselves. So finding that language gives us
(08:08):
impotence and Black History Month to speak these truths about
ourselves and use these opportunities of our past to raise
us all up. So I do have, you know, admiration
for people like doctor Martin Luther King Junior. That took
a lot of courage to do what he did, but
(08:29):
I'm sure he was inspired, you know, and we are
lucky to be in his shadow at this time in
human history. So that's how I would answer that.
Speaker 5 (08:42):
For our students, you know, our room for diversity aquadumclusion
is the creating environment of oneness of humomity as well.
So yess the sort of core muscles that are students
allow or perspective students that will problem then they know
(09:07):
from equivalent to that.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
I think, well, our students have to realize that this
profession that they're entering into is one of the sacred sacredness.
And when you put something in in that frame of reference,
that gives one pause to think, well, what does that
mean and what is my responsibility regarding how I handle
(09:32):
myself and how I will handle others. So this humble
posture of learning is consistent throughout life, and that when
you look at a human being, you must realize that
that soul is a sacred person, that it's nothing haphazard
about them. Mind, body, and spirit is truly what they
(09:53):
have to connect with and latching. You know, the first
year students come in and they're in awe and they're
overwhelmed with their schedule, and we happen to be doing
a one on one and clinical exam skills, and they
bring opp into clinical exam skills and we have a
standardized patient. We get to look at them and coddle
(10:15):
them with that in mind, regardless of where they come
from or what their religious practices have been, whether they're
whatever their gender is, that's not important. The fact that
they are given a bountiful opportunity to work with people
on that level. It's very sacred. It's not something to
be overlooked or or mishandled in any way, and we
(10:39):
as faculty have to represent them and model it for them.
Level yes, yes, yes, and respect each other. There's so
many levels. It's just incredible, overwhelming.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
M Well, welcome, poblism. I couldn't be more grateful for
your time till Thank.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
You, welcome, You're welcome. Thank you for calling upon me
and inviting me to talk to you. It's been a pleasure.
It's been a pleasure. It's your hiring for Thank you.
You're welcome. Have a good day too, most of the soon. Okay,
bye bye bye
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