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Christmas is a special time for many families. For the seven grandchildren of Robert S. Juhasz, DO, MACOI, FACP, their second Christmas is extra special. After they turn 2 years old, they receive a white coat and medical kit for Christmas from Papa.
“It’s never too early to plant a seed,” chuckled Dr. Juhasz, chair of Kansas City University‘s (KCU) Board of Trustees.
So far, only one of the seven has expressed interest in becoming a physician, “… but I don’t push. I tell them to do what their heart tells them to do,” he said.
Dr. Juhasz, who is now retired, decided at age 12 to follow his heart and become a doctor after spending time with his mother, who was often ill, at medical appointments.
But his decision wasn’t always greeted with enthusiasm.
“I wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box; I wasn’t an A student all the time; a high school counselor laughed at me, and it was painful,” he recalled. “But you will have hurdles that you have to overcome if that is your passion.”
Nevertheless, as a first-generation college student, Dr. Juhasz took pre-med courses at John Carroll University, a Jesuit school in University Heights, Ohio. He chose a school that was close to home, so he could continue to work at the hospital to pay the tuition. He then applied to several osteopathic medical schools – but only got on the wait list at three. He figured he would work for a year and try again, but three days before school was to begin he got the call from Dean Wilbur Cole, DO, offering him a spot at KCU.
Dr. Juhasz said “sure!” and booked a flight to Kansas City.
If getting in was a hurdle then staying in was another – but not because of grades. He had saved $6,000, which was enough for his first year. Then he received a one-year Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL). But he knew that if he did not receive a scholarship for the last two years, he could not continue.
“Fortunately, I was successful (and very grateful) to receive a National Health Service Corps Scholarship that allowed me to complete my osteopathic medical school education,” Dr. Juhasz said.
The scholarship changed his trajectory in osteopathic medicine.
“I always wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon, but knowing that I would have to serve for two years in an underserved area in a primary care practice, I chose to become an internal medicine physician, which has served me very well throughout my career,” he said.
Selecting a single memorable patient was difficult for Dr. Juhasz because “each patient impacts your life.” But one stands out in his memory reinforcing his belief that you can learn so much by listening to people.
“In my first year in practice, I was practicing in a medically underserved area as part of my commitment to the Public Health Service. I was out in a rural area and there were a lot of migrant farm workers,” he said. “A Vietnamese gentleman came in, who had been brought to the area through the ministry of a local church. He was jaundiced.”
After a thorough medical history (working with an interpreter) and exam, Dr. Juhasz remembered that a liver fluke called Clonorchis sinensis (Chinese or oriental liver fluke) was endemic to the area where his patient had lived. He ordered some stool tests and confirmed his diagnosis of a parasitic infection. With treatment, the man was better in a few weeks.
“Despite the fact that we have all this technology, oftentimes it comes down to asking the right questions and then doing a good, thorough physical examination,” he said. “It's really trying to think about the person in the context of their lives. Where did they come from? Who do they love? What do they eat? What do they drink? What are their activities? What is their family history?”
Dr. Juhasz is grateful to KCU because the education he received allowed him to become an osteopathic physician. Not only was he able to provide a good life for his wife and family, he is now able to give back. He contributes to KCU both financially as a member of the new President’s Club (those who make gifts of $5,000+ annually), and through service as chair of the KCU Board of Trustees.
He summed up his thoughts about his career this way: “We have many unique opportunities to improve health in the communities we serve and I am optimistic about the future for our graduates in osteopathic medicine, dental medicine, clinical psychology, medical research and public health as long as we remain focused on our mission to ‘improve the well-being of the communities we serve’.”
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