91制片厂

Faculty Focus: Dr. Sharon McKenna, Assistant Professor, College of Osteopathic Medicine

As a coal miner鈥檚 daughter growing up in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Dr. Sharon McKenna had a familiarity with medicine at a young age.

鈥淢y mom was in and out of the hospitals when I was a little kid, and our family doctor was a DO,鈥� she said.

Robindale, the small, blue-collar town where McKenna grew up, population 78, no longer exists. A flood ravaged the town in the late 1970s, and residents who survived were forced to relocate.

鈥淲hat was once Robindale is now a power plant located next to a coal mine,鈥� McKenna said.

After majoring in biology and chemistry during her undergraduate years, McKenna chose to teach since she wasn鈥檛 entirely sure if medicine was a career she wanted to pursue after college.

At one point, she and her husband took on a few different business ventures, including owning a children鈥檚 clothing store and a restaurant. While owning the clothing store, McKenna鈥檚 husband suffered a heart attack. From there, her career trajectory steered her toward her calling.

鈥淲e had a talk about what the future held for our careers, and I told him that I really wanted to be a doctor,鈥� McKenna recalled. 鈥淗e told me that I should go for it.鈥�

After graduating from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Penn., McKenna stayed in Erie to complete a family medicine residency at the St. Vincent Health System.

McKenna eventually relocated to Florida and was working as a physician when she applied for a faculty position at 91制片厂 in 2018.

鈥淚 never really thought about Southern Nevada, but it seemed like a natural progression for us since both of our kids live out West,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 loved the people I interviewed with and Touro seemed like a great fit for me.鈥�

Throughout the last year, McKenna has developed great relationships with her colleagues and loves connecting with the students.

鈥淭he faculty are very concerned about educating good doctors in a way that helps them become life-long learners. I鈥檓 so impressed by that,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very meeting and discussion we have are focused on helping the students learn the best way they can.鈥�

McKenna credits the university鈥檚 open-door policy for creating a close-knit culture that lends it students the ability to thrive inside and outside the classroom.鈥淭he students can drop by our offices any time,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e want them to understand everything they need to know; not only to pass their boards but to help them become good and effective doctors later in life.鈥�