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In the Spotlight: Pamela Tipler ’05

Pamela Tipler, DO ’05, has always had a calling to help people. The biology major and Spanish minor pursued medical school following her graduation from Lycoming College. Pam served as a flight surgeon for the U.S. Army until later deciding that she could continue to serve others around the world through mission work. When not traveling, she can be found in Georgia where she serves on the faculty of medicine at Augusta University, Wellstar MCG Health.

You were a biology major at Lycoming College and earned your Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), with which Lycoming now offers a 4+ 4 program. How did Lycoming prepare you for continuing your education at PCOM? 

Lycoming was instrumental in my preparation for medical school. With the guidance of Dr. Ed Gabriel, I was educated on what was necessary to get into medical school, i.e. course work, shadowing experiences, volunteerism, etc. I was the first person to go to college in my family, let alone medical school. So, I really did not know what was needed until I attended Lycoming.

Following your graduation from PCOM, you served active duty in the United States Army working in internal medicine. After residency, you were deployed as a flight surgeon where you flew medevac (Blackhawk, trauma care). Can you share more about your experience in that role? 

As a flight surgeon, it was my job to maintain the health of my aviation company. Additionally, I was first responder to any traumas and flew with the patients to a higher level of care in order to keep them stabilized. Another aspect of being a flight surgeon is that we are trained how to fly the aircraft in case something happens to one of the pilots. I am glad nothing happened because they would not want me flying the aircraft. Haha!

You are an associate professor of medicine and academic hospitalist at Augusta University Medical Center Medical College of Georgia. Tell us about your work there. 

My primary role as a hospitalist is to take care of patients who are sick. This can be from flare ups of lung disease, heart failure, kidney failure, pneumonia, infections, etc. On the academic side, I train students and residents on the wards. If you think of the TV show House, I am House, and the students and residents are the learners. I help guide them in their patient care and give didactic lectures. Additionally, I serve as an academic advisor at the medical school where I have over 200 students whom I advise between the four classes.

Additionally, you perform mission work around the world (Uganda, Guatemala, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal, Puerto Rico, India, and Bangladesh, to name a few). Can you share more about what that entails and what drew you to serve in such a profound way? 

Growing up, I always said, “I just want to run around Africa taking care of people.” I wanted to do Doctors without Borders. My faith is central to my life, so I felt it was God calling me there. I mean, why would a country kid from northcentral PA who followed horse and buggies to and from school every day get an idea like that if it was not my calling? However, the idea of the Army came into my head during college and felt that was my new calling. After returning from deployment, I did not feel I was supposed to stay in the Army anymore, and the idea of mission work came back into my head. So, I went on my first mission trip to Guatemala since I speak Spanish.

During that trip, I realized that I was definitely supposed to get out of the Army and pursue mission work. I went to many places working with different organizations, which is how I ended up in so many countries. I now predominantly go to Uganda. I work with a local organization there called Raising Up Hope for Uganda. The primary focus is to get children off the streets and provide them with an education and a future. We have three orphanages, a nursery and primary school, and a secondary school. I built a clinic there where our secondary school is. I also have a team made up of a local Ugandan doctor, three nurses, and two laboratory techs. We go on outreaches to the slums or in different rural villages where they do not have access to care, but we go to the same places all the time so there is continuity of care. I fund everything myself, including the medications, salaries of workers, transportation, supplies, etc. I have brought undergraduate and medical students, physician assistant students, residents, EMTs, nurses, and others with me.

In 2013, you were awarded the Taunia Oechslin Young Alumni Award, which is given to a graduate of Lycoming who has made significant contributions to his/her profession, demonstrates leadership and accomplishment in his/her career, exemplifies outstanding service and volunteerism to the College or the community during the first 15 years since graduating from Lycoming, and whose ongoing work reflects positively on the College. What advice would you give to our next generation of young alumni who aspire to be leaders in the world? 

I would tell them to dream big. Do not let setbacks discourage you; use them to learn. Do not settle. Push yourself beyond what you think your limitations are. Always challenge yourself. Make connections and seek mentors. Love on the people around you and the world.

 

In the Spotlight recognizes members of our alumni community who are doing great things that have been influenced by their time at Lycoming College. Alumni Spotlight submissions are used at the discretion of the College and may be included in the monthly eNews as space and time permit. To participate, submit an Alumni Spotlight questionnaire.