The osteopathic medicine philosophy is paramount to Hall’s study. “I love the wholebody integration aspect of the DO philosophy,” he emphasized. “It’s a natural fit for all that I hope to accomplish, and LECOM has led the way in that arena.” Clues to a Calling - Former Police Detective Pursues her Passion Allison Hinkle is matriculating to the LECOM School of Pharmacy after enjoying a career as a police detective. Since 2010, Allison Hinkle has lived the life of a detective. She has traversed the most dangerous neighborhoods and scouted the most upscale communities in search of clues and pieces of information necessary to solve countless cases. Now, the 29-year-old is leaving her career in law enforcement to piece together the information needed to earn her doctor of pharmacy degree from LECOM in Bradenton, Fla.
Above: Former Police Detective, Allison Hinkle, pursues her passion to earn her Pharm.D. degree. Below, left: Former Corrections Officer, Jeffrey Hall, seeks his DO Degree. Below, right: James Ittel sets his focus upon a Dental Degree.
“I’ve always loved chemistry and science, and I had an interest in medicine,” said Hinkle, who worked both at the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and at Avon Park Police Department in Florida. “My career in law enforcement helped me to deal with people from all walks of life and the same skill is necessary for the pharmacy profession,” she noted. A few of the cases that Hinkle worked as a detective included those related to drug trafficking and prescription medication fraud. “While there is an adrenaline rush involved with being a detective, it is far from the glamorous life as depicted on TV,” she assured, noting that there are times when when a detective is confined to “sitting behind a desk for eight hours a day.” Leaving law enforcement was not an easy decision for Hinkle, but her keen interest in pharmacy outweighed every other career consideration. “Law enforcement always will be in my blood, but I’m looking forward to another challenge,” she asserted; “I’m taking a leap of faith.” Her faith in her abilities already has proved fruitful. LECOM was the only pharmacy school to which she applied. “It was LECOM or bust!” declared Hinkle. Averred the pharmacy student, “I like the whole-person, patient-centered approach that is central to the LECOM curriculum.” Digging In - Dream of Dentistry Under Construction
After enjoying a successful career in excavation and business ownership, 42-yearold James Ittel is living out his dream of becoming a dentist.
“I always knew that I wanted to do this,” Ittel stated; explaining that he had encouraging conversations with his childhood dentist about the profession.
When James Ittel received his finance degree from Valparaiso University in 1994, he made certain to put it to good use. He opened and owned an excavation company – Ittel Excavation – and he continues to own the Friendly Mart Gas Station and Convenience Store in Englewood, Fla.
Ittel’s acceptance into the LECOM School of Dental Medicine was, to him, especially gratifying because he does not have to leave home. Ittel and his wife, Julie, have lived in nearby Venice, Fla. since 1997.
His business acumen aside, Ittel always had wished to pursue a career in dentistry. When the economic downturn dampened the field of excavation, Ittel returned to school in 2010 to complete the prerequisites necessary to apply to dental school.
Intrigued by the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) curriculum offered by LECOM, Ittel found appealing the idea of working and studying in groups, in lieu of sitting in lectures. “There’s no doubt that this is the best way to learn,” Ittel pronounced.
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