Mary Franz, DO (COM ’90) is President of the KCU Alumni Association Board. Dr. Franz is a physician in the post-acute care and long-term care department at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, Kansas. She recently sat down with the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations to share some of her fondest memories from her education at Kansas City University, as well as advice she would provide to future osteopathic physicians today.

What is your fondest memory from your education at Kansas City University?

I think probably my fondest memory is just the camaraderie of our class and the support that we all gave each other we were going through. What you don’t have now is, we had notetaking that we all shared in. One person would be assigned to each lecture, and we would listen to the tape on that, transcribe it, and then that lecture note would be shared with everyone. That was fun, but a lot of work.

The other thing I remember a lot is Dr. Landers, who had an allergy to formaldehyde. He was one of the anatomy professors, so he wore a respirator with two big respirator filters on each side. I’m standing there during the first anatomy exam, and he is across the hall, and all of a sudden you hear: (muffled talking) “Please do not touch the specimen.” I jumped three feet in the air! I always laugh at that one, when I think about it.

What are some specific experiences at Kansas City University that you feel prepared you well for your career today?

I would have to say all of my education that I received. KCU really prepared me to do what I am doing. I actually feel very, very comfortable being a family practice doc. We see a lot of different things. I always feel like we’re a jack-of-many-trades/master of few, but it was a well-rounded education. There was a high standard we had to meet. It was stressful at the time, but it really prepared me.

I don’t know if it would be one specific thing, but the most-relaxing thing was when we all did OMT on each other, to take the stress out of being hunched over a book, studying all of the time.

Why would you encourage your fellow Kansas City University alumni to get involved with their alma mater?

It’s a way to give back to the institution that provided us with our livelihood. And, just seeing all the changes that KCU has undergone in the last several years – the campus is absolutely gorgeous now. To feel like my contributions helped make that happen, that’s kind of a cool feeling. Plus, it’s staying connected with the students, helping those coming after us. It’s like an opportunity to pay it forward.

What was your favorite class and/or who was your favorite teacher at Kansas City University, and why?

My absolute favorite was OMT. That’s the main reason I wanted to be a DO, not just because I believed I would be a better doctor, but OMT was really something that I wanted to learn and wanted to use in my practice. And then, physiology – I love physiology.

I don’t know that I had a particular favorite professor. I had a lot of professors who, if you were struggling in an area, they really reached out to the students to help them try and figure out how to improve.

If you could give today’s Kansas City University students one piece of advice, what would it be, and why?

Learn to be a good diagnostician. Learn how to apply the knowledge and the education that you are getting. And then, also live conservatively when you first get out from residency so you can get your student loans paid off.