Benjamin Greene, DO, PNWU-COM Class of 2021, reflects on the profound impact PNWU scholarships have had on his journey to care.
“I am so grateful to have been accepted and medically educated at PNWU,” said Benjamin Greene, DO, PNWU-COM Class of 2021. Reflecting on a remarkable journey that has taken him from his rural Idaho roots to the realization of his dream of treating and healing others, Dr. Greene was certain of one thing: If it all started over, he’d return to PNWU.
From a young age, Dr. Greene’s father instilled in him the importance of serving others. Having contracted polio at the age of four – and, in turn, gained a deep understanding of the impact of accessible care and community support – he would regularly load Ben and his brothers into the family truck to visit patients at their local hospital.
“Dad could visit with anyone as if they were lifelong friends,” Dr. Greene recalled fondly. “Some were so sick all they could do was smile.”
These early experiences planted the seed for a future dedicated to the service of others. Now, all he had to do was activate that dream.
Venturing beyond the familiar halls of his rural hometown hospital, Dr. Greene’s path to care took him across communities, countries, and entire continents, ultimately landing him at PNWU: a university committed to bringing providers to the Northwest, in a rural community like the one he grew up in, with a vision remarkably similar to his own.
As a member of the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Class of 2021, and the first recipient of the Watson Family Endowed Scholarship, Dr. Greene found the support he needed to ceaselessly pursue that bold vision.
“The generosity of the Watsons helped ease the stress of finances and allowed me more mental space to focus on my education and career goals,” explained Dr. Greene. Now a third-year ONMM (Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine) Resident at Michigan State University, Dr. Greene still chats frequently with the Watsons, catching them up on how he’s doing and where he’s living.
As he prepares for a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Detroit Medical Center, his dedication to combining manual medicine skills with musculoskeletal ultrasound, acute injury prevention and management reflects his commitment to addressing the needs of his community.
Looking ahead, he is eager to return to the Pacific Northwest, where he plans to continue his mission of serving rural and medically underserved populations.
Thinking back on his time at PNWU, Dr. Greene highlighted the critical role that scholarships played in shaping not only his future, but the future of healthcare, particularly in medically underserved areas of his beloved Pacific Northwest.
“Support of a PNWU scholarship isn’t just an investment in an education,” Dr. Greene urged. “It’s funding the health and well-being of ourselves and our loved ones. It’s a commitment to extending the kind of care and compassion my dad instilled in me.”