President’s Message
Katie Davenport-Kabonic, DO, FAAP, FACOFP
During the past month I was honored to 
represent MAOPS alongside our Executive Director, Brian Bowles, during an awards ceremony and graduation for the ATSU-KCOM Class of 2025. To say our younger physicians are impressive is an understatement! In fact, each year it is a joke within our family medicine residency program that if we were to apply to our program alongside any of the current residents or impressive candidates, there is no way any of us would be in the top tier. We see this every year: young physicians seem to continue to find ways to extend their professional and personal growth while also managing the demands of medical training. Yet, we also know that what we see as the culmination of that growth is still only a fraction of the truly impressive qualities inherent in each and every physician.
The commencement speaker at ATSU-KCOM’s graduation, Jamie Wagner, DO, MBA, FACOS, FACS, spoke to the class of 2025 with authenticity, depicting this so humbly and eloquently in her inspiring words. She shared her professional and personal journey – her numerous impressive accomplishments and the challenges leading up to them – and encouraged each young physician to find their purpose, passion, and perseverance amidst their work. During this emotional, mental, and physical peak of the young physician’s growth, she also shared honestly that the work we do as physicians doesn’t always have good days. There are bad days. Some really, really bad days. And yet, there are many more good days, especially when the work is aligned with one’s purpose and passion. They make the bad days – as well as all the long days in between – worth it.
Her words reminded me of a 2017 MAOPS Convention keynote speaker’s similar words of advice. Alison Levine, the first American Women’s Everest Expedition Team Captain, wisely shared with our audience of osteopathic physicians her experiences with perseverance and leadership when tackling challenges. Like the nerdy notetaker I am (ATSU-KCOM Class of 2012 Secretary), I still have the notes I jotted down that resonated with me then. Not surprising, they still do now: “Be relentless. Just put one foot in front of the other. Your best climbers may be the ones with the most bruises… they may be the ones pushing their limits and spending more time on the trails.”
For all the accomplishments any physician may achieve and receive recognition for over the course of their career, it is truly the unrecognized accomplishments of showing up each day (whether it is a good, bad, or in – between day) and moving on after each bruise (knowing it won’t be the last) that demonstrate the inherent qualities of each physician. I think it is easy to overlook the impact of these steps we take each day – just putting one foot in front of the other – even if they aren’t the one’s just before the summit. Yet each step leading up to the summit made it possible. Each step matters just as much as the others. This work we do is hard. And so much of the work is not done in the light or at the peak. Physicians are inherently relentless because of this. And because of this relentless work, we ensure that those who come after us are better than we are.
I was especially proud as I witnessed two of our MAOPS Wetzel Scholars recognized for their outstanding leadership. Over the last few years, Justin Hajicek and Nichelle Chastain have impressed me with their ability to pursue their dreams relentlessly. Both matched to highly competitive postgraduate specialties (PM&R and orthopedics, respectively) and have excelled academically and professionally while nurturing healthy family relationships. In addition, they have completed rigorous MAOPS Wetzel Scholar program responsibilities. Both Dr. Hajicek and Dr. Chastain are examples of the relentless pursuit of excellence I mentioned above. I know this will continue throughout their careers and we will see them rise to be excellent mentors for the next generation of osteopathic physicians!
So, congratulations to the Classes of 2025, and all the classes before! Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep persevering. Be relentless. Keep finding your purpose and passion in your work as an osteopathic physician and know you are helping our entire profession grow.