Preceptor Spotlight: Jan Furniss, M.D.
6/14/2019
This article was written by Casey Pearce, Associate Director of External Relations & Marketing for NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine on the Jonesboro campus of Arkansas State University. It was published in the Clinical Education newsletter.
(Writer’s Note: We are incredibly grateful for the physicians who have partnered with us to train the physicians of tomorrow. Without our preceptors, our mission would not be attainable. In each issue of the Heartbeat, we’ll share the story of one of the preceptors with whom our students are training.)
Like many physicians, Jan Furniss, M.D., believes she’d likely be a teacher had she not pursued a career in medicine. As a preceptor for NYITCOM at A-State, Dr. Furniss is enjoying the opportunity to combine her passions for medicine and education by training future physicians.
“I’ve loved having student doctors with me,” Dr. Furniss said. “It’s been extremely rewarding to see them come in a little uneasy and nervous and leave with a confidence and practical knowledge base that’s going to help them become successful physicians.”
Dr. Furniss is an OB/GYN who practices at Willow Creek Women’s Clinic in Johnson, Ark., which is located between Fayetteville and Springdale. She earned her M.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and then completed her OB/GYN residency at University of Louisville School of Medicine. She sees her role as an important opportunity to help student doctors through a crucial portion of their medical education as they’re trying to choose a specialty.
“It’s hard to choose your specialty when you haven’t experienced a certain area of medicine and you don’t know what it’s like,” Dr. Furniss said. “I want to expose them to a wide variety of cases so they can make an informed decision.”
Dr. Furniss has practiced OB/GYN for 32 years and believes she can be an ambassador for the specialty by providing the student doctors with a positive experience.
“I try to be very encouraging to them because if they get a lot out of the rotation, that can certainly help recruit to our specialty,” Dr. Furniss said. “I love OB/GYN and I want students to see what a great field it is. We certainly need more doctors in this field.”
As she completes her first year as an NYITCOM preceptor, Furniss has been impressed with the quality of students she’s had in her clinic.
“They’re bright and pick things up quickly,” Dr. Furniss said. “They’ve been a delight to deal with. They’re all smart, eager to learn and respectful. My patients have connected with them. Having students can be time consuming, but to me it’s worth it. I’ve enjoyed spending time with them and getting to know them.”
Michelle Tedrowe, a third-year NYITCOM medical student who earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas, has benefitted from Dr. Furniss’s passion for teaching is extremely grateful for the opportunity she had to train under her.
“She went above and beyond every day to give me the best learning experience possible,” Tedrowe said. “Dr. Furniss stayed late many days to review patient cases with me, to discuss American College of Obstetrical and Gynecological guidelines and to review practice questions before my exam. She was very encouraging and helped me gain confidence in my clinical and patient encounter skills. She invested time in my success, which I am grateful for. She was a phenomenal example of a dedicated physician who truly cares for her patients’ wellbeing. Dr. Furniss has remained a mentor to me even after the completion of my rotation. NYITCOM is lucky to have such a wonderful physician teaching its student doctors.”
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