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OU-COM Prof Named
Surgery Mentor of
the Year
Faculty member
honored for
excellence in
teaching,
humanitarianism
By Richard Heck
Nov. 5, 2009
The national Student
Osteopathic Surgical
Association (SOSA)
honored OHIO surgeon
David Drozek,
D.O. (’83), as
Surgery Mentor of
the Year Sunday,
Nov. 1. Drozek is an
assistant professor
of specialty
medicine at OU-COM.
Drozek came to the
college three years
ago “to influence
the lives of the
next generation of
physicians in a
positive way,” he
said. “This
recognition helps
affirm that I’m
making an impact in
the lives of some
students, and it’s
an encouragement to
get even more
involved in their
educational
process.”
James Prueter, OMS
II,
who nominated Drozek
for the award, cited
Drozek’s dedication
to helping others in
the Athens area and
around the world.
Prior to joining the
OU-COM faculty in
2006, Drozek, his
wife (Becky), and
their three children
lived in Honduras as
missionaries for
eight years.
“Dr. Drozek has
given osteopathic
students not only
the opportunity to
succeed
academically, but
also, through his
humanitarian medical
work, an
appreciation of
serving those in
need,” said Prueter,
who is also
president of the
college’s Surgery
and Sports Medicine
Club.
In his nomination
letter, Prueter
noted that each year
Drozek takes his
family and a large
group of students to
study international
medicine in the
Central American
countries of El
Salvador and
Honduras. In
Honduras, Drozek and
his students assist
with surgeries in
Hospital Suizo and
meet with Honduran
medical students,
interns and
residents. This
program, launched
last year, marks
OU-COM’s first
international
surgery rotation.
“Dr. Drozek works to
improve students’
cultural
sensitivity,
communication skills
and appreciation for
modern medicine,”
Prueter said, and
gives students the
opportunity to learn
about “diseases not
typically seen
within the United
States. … He
provides underserved
patients with the
medical care they
need and deserve.”
Prueter noted that
Drozek donated
suture kits and
surgical gowns for
each member of the
OU-COM Surgery and
Sports Medicine
Club.
Dean Jack Brose,
D.O., lauded
Drozek’s commitment
to providing health
care for those in
need
internationally, but
also here in the
United States. “Dr.
Drozek is an
outstanding role
model for our
students and an
excellent surgeon,”
Brose said.
Besides his own
private surgical
practice, Doctors
Hospital in
Nelsonville, and
duties at OU-COM,
Drozek also
volunteers for Good
Works, Inc., a
homeless shelter
located in Athens.
Drozek earned a
bachelor’s degree
from Cedarville
College in
Cedarville, Ohio. He
completed a rotating
internship and a
general surgery
residency, both at
Doctors Hospital in
Columbus, where he
was chief resident
in 1987 and 1988.
SOSA is a means for
student members of
the American College
of Osteopathic
Surgeons (ACOS) to
participate in ACOS
activities and
governance. The
purpose is to engage
and represent future
osteopathic surgeons
through local
chapters of SOSA.
The organization
promotes surgical
education,
emphasizes
osteopathic
principles in the
practice of surgery
and provides
networking
opportunities among
medical students and
osteopathic
surgeons.
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