Carving His Own Path

Robert L. Schoenen II, DO, FAAEM (COM '82), readily admits he wouldn't be where he is today—a board-certified emergency room physician at Lee's Summit Medical Center in Lee's Summit, Missouri—without the high-quality education he received at KCU. And it's because of that priceless foundation of knowledge that he has chosen to make a bequest to the University.

"I want to not only give back, but to also help ensure the next generation of students is taught about every aspect of being an osteopathic physician," he says.

Dr. Schoenen also uses his father's legacy as a rural medicine physician to inform his career and shape his philosophy, even decades following the elder Schoenen's death.

"My father worked until the day he died in 2005 of Parkinson's disease," Dr. Schoenen says. "The virtues of hard work he impressed upon me, and what I experienced growing up with a dad revered by the community, continue to inspire me."

Dr. Schoenen's father, Robert L. Schoenen (COM '63), worked as a handyman for farmers in the area around the tiny German-influenced town of Koeltztown, Missouri. He was encouraged to apply for medical school by Richard Michael, DO (COM '46), a doctor in nearby Jefferson City who was caring for one of the Schoenen children who was struggling with a serious medical condition.

"It was a life-changing event, seeing how Dr. Michael diagnosed and cared for my younger brother and helped my family navigate a scary and uncertain time," Dr. Schoenen says, who recalls looking up to the physician with high regard. "From that incident, which happened in grade school, I had it in my head that I wanted to be a physician."

Dr. Schoenen's desire to pursue medicine strengthened when his father, after heeding Dr. Michael's advice, applied and was admitted to KCU. He and his wife, Irene, packed up their children and moved to Kansas City; following his graduation in 1963, the newly minted doctor whisked the family back near Koeltztown. He proceeded to establish his medical practice in nearby Argyle, Missouri—it involved house calls, informal meals with patients at their homes and even fishing invitations from patients with ponds on their property.

"I saw the genuine respect people had for 'Doc,' which is what they called my dad, and how he helped change their lives, much like Dr. Michael did ours," Dr. Schoenen says. "Practicing medicine in a rural community back in the 1960s was very organic, very personal. The barter system was part of health care then—people might invite us to share a fried chicken dinner as payment for treatment or give us a ham or even a cow. We celebrated Fourth of July and other holidays with patients."

Over time, Dr. Schoenen's father accumulated land and 500 head of cattle, balancing farming with his medical practice.

"He was devoted to his profession," Dr. Schoenen says. "Medicine was his life calling, but he also tended to a love of farming. One passion fed the other."

Dr. Schoenen, who describes himself as a "low-profile guy," admits he could have easily adopted farming, the vocation of choice in the region where he grew up, without any inside inspiration. But he cites Dr. Michael's demeanor and what he did for his brother as making an indelible mark that would eventually lead him to medical school.

"Dr. Michael was brilliant," he says. "I watched his interactions with my brother, not even realizing at the time that I was seeing the osteopathic philosophy unfold before my eyes. And then having a front seat to my father's career—it's all come full circle for me."

The Osteopathic Journey

Though he was surrounded by doctors of osteopathy as a youngster, Dr. Schoenen applied to the University of Missouri School of Medicine, as well as KCU.

"My father told me he wouldn't accept anything but a doctor of osteopathy as a partner," he laughs. "It was always a dream of mine to practice with him, so I chose to attend KCU."

Serendipitously, Dr. Schoenen's roommate at premed University of Missouri was Dr. Michael's son, Roy Michael (COM '80), now a retired anesthesiologist in Jefferson City. The two emulated their fathers' commitments to medicine—they were dedicated to studying hard and planning their futures as physicians.

Working with his father following graduation, Dr. Schoenen rotated between primary care responsibilities, family practice medicine, OB-GYN and general surgery procedures. Eventually he opened his own practice 10 miles from his father's and was on staff at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, where he had his first taste of emergency medicine. In 1987, Dr. Schoenen took an opportunity with the Missouri State Penitentiary as chief medical officer and was ultimately named Medical Director of the Department of Corrections for the State of Missouri.

Supporting KCU: A Priority and Privilege

Not only does Dr. Schoenen support the efforts of KCU through planned giving, he mentors students.

"I've mentored students since 1999 and have seen the quality and character of students increase tremendously over the years," he says. "KCU is doing a lot of things right in preparing young students for the challenges of a career in medicine—teaching the art and skills of becoming a doctor. The school's philosophy builds character at a primary level and teaches you to accept patients on their level, as human beings."

Today, Dr. Schoenen is motivated by a myriad of things, including the rewards of saving lives in emergency medicine and mentoring students.

"I always ask them, 'What do you want to do after you're a doctor?'" he says. "Their jaws usually drop because they've probably never thought about their career in that context. But I stress this: You have to have a life to keep your vocation fresh and inspiring. It's not all about medicine; find balance in your life and you're going to be a better doctor, more helpful to your colleagues and more present and with a compassionate attitude for your patients. It's not all about money or status."

Planned giving to KCU is also a source of inspiration for Dr. Schoenen, and an option he hopes his fellow alumni will consider.

"It's a powerful way to have a voice in shaping the future of osteopathic medicine," he says.

Like Dr. Schoenen, you can shape the future of medicine through a planned gift to KCU. To learn more about your giving options, contact Jennifer Ingraham at jingraham@kansascity.edu or (816) 654-7282.