Committed to Learning - Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine ...

Benefactor Spring 2008KKevin and Tammy Smith endow scholarshipto assist future physiciansThere are many ways physicians showcompassion. One way we may not thinkabout is when a successful physicianlooks back at his medical school days and thinksof the financial burden some students accrueduring their studies.Kevin S. Smith, M.D., Class of 1986, and hiswife, Tammy, decided to help these students. “Wesaw these physicians coming out of school withthis huge financial responsibility and decidedto give future physicians a leg up,” said Tammy.“We are fortunate enough to be able to give backin this way. And, Kevin wanted to do somethingspecial in celebration of his 50th birthday.”The Smiths are giving back by establishingThe Dr. Kevin S. and Mrs. Tammy C. SmithEndowed Scholarship for the Joan C. EdwardsSchool of Medicine. The scholarship will go toa full-time, first-year student in the School ofMedicine who has the greatest financial need andhas displayed academic excellence. The Smithswould like for the award to go to a student fromLogan County; however, if there is not a qualifiedLogan County recipient, the scholarship will goto a former athlete from West Virginia. An outof-statestudent athlete will be considered as athird preference. Both Smiths are from Logan.Dr. Smith has more than 20 years ofexperience working in the field of painmanagement. Choosing this specialty was theresult of a life changing experience. “While I wasdoing my residency at the University of Louisville,a school bus was hit by a drunk driver,” Smithsaid. “I treated the young children and saw theirpain. I continued to see patients with pain thatDr. Smith as amedical studentwasn’t addressed, whodid not know therewere treatments thatcan permanently movethem away from painmedication. This field alsogives me more controlover my professional lifeand is more rewarding.With this field you get toknow your patients morethan when doing anesthesia.”Dr. Smith, whose practice is Integrated PainSpecialists in San Diego, Calif., is a Diplomateof the American Board of Anesthesiology, with aSubspecialty Certification in Pain Medicine. DrSmith is also a Qualified Medical Evaluator withthe Department of Industrial Relations.Tammy Smith worked formerly as a nationalbuyer for Sears. She is now the administratorfor her husband’s practice. The Smiths have adaughter, Gabriela, who is 10 years-old. TheirMaltese, Princess, and five birds - an AfricanGray, a cockatoo, a love bird, and two parakeetskeepthem company as well.Scholarships may be endowed for as littleas $15,000. The donor has the opportunityto participate in establishing guidelines andin determining the name of the award. Pleasecontact Linda S. Holmes, Director, Developmentand Alumni Affairs, at the Marshall UniversityJoan C. Edwards School of Medicine, (304) 691-1711 or toll-free (877) 691-1600, ext. 1711 formore information.