Throughout a remarkable medical journey, Richard Jeffries, DO, ’68, has woven a legacy of consistent giving that continues to fortify the future of medical education at A.T. Still University (ATSU).
His journey began as a first-year medical student in the nation’s heartland. “I was not entirely sure what to expect,” Dr. Jeffries says. Humble and unassuming when compared to his friends’ educational surroundings back East, the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) delivered a transformational experience that shaped Dr. Jeffries’ life.
The challenges were abundant but the completion of his degree and subsequent residency in internal medicine revealed the magnitude of the education he received at ATSU-KCOM.
Armed with the knowledge and experience he had acquired, Dr. Jeffries joined one of his residency mentors to form a two-person internal medicine practice. Their dedication and expertise soon led to a bustling practice that gained recognition from a national consultant for its volume and efficiency.
One of the areas he remains proud of was his ability to interpret EKGs, which he attributes to the robust foundation he received during his osteopathic training.
“After our hospital merged with two large allopathic hospitals with at least 50 cardiologists on board, they objected to general internists doing these interpretations. A study of the interpretations was done, and it showed our analyses were more accurate than any of the cardiology groups, so we continued on,” Dr. Jeffries says.
Ascending the ranks, Dr. Jeffries became chairman of the Department of Medicine at the local hospital and later chairman of the entire Pinnacle UPMC Hospitals in central Pennsylvania. Amid his achievements, he never forgot his roots.
To show his gratitude, he established the Richard H. Jeffries, DO, General Operations Endowment to benefit the university that had profoundly impacted his life. “I wanted to provide an ongoing funding source for the benefit of the medical school.”
Dr. Jeffries and his wife, Suzanne, continue to contribute to this endowment with gifts from their donor advised fund. Donor advised funds are a versatile and impactful charitable giving tool, known for their flexibility, tax advantages, and ability to support a range of causes. Gifts from donor advised funds are welcomed at ATSU.
“I encourage others who have benefited from the education they received at Kirksville to give back to help those who follow us to receive the same grounding we did in becoming physicians,” Dr. Jeffries says.
Learn More
Contact The Mesa Campus or the Kirksville Campus at 480.219.6105 (AZ) or 660.626.2180 (MO) or development@atsu.edu to discover how a donor advised fund can extend your impact at ATSU.