Family Practice

By Michelle Goff

You might say the Thompsons are a UPIKE family. Marcia Slone Thompson graduated from Pikeville College in 1981, her husband Randy attended, and four of their six children graduated from UPIKE’s healthcare professional schools. Yes, that means there are four doctors in the family.

When asked why so many members of their family pursued medicine, Ashley Thompson, a 2015 graduate of the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, says, “I think the reason is pretty simple. The term doctor, derived from the Latin word ‘docere,’ literally means ‘to teach.’ My mother, aunt and grandfather were all teachers.”

Ashley, who’s completing a pulmonology/critical care medicine fellowship at the University of Kentucky, continues, “They were first-hand examples of the dedication and discipline that accompanies learning a new skill, as well as the reward of sharing your knowledge with others. My decision to pursue a career of lifelong learning stems from roots planted by the great educators in my family.”

Marcia, a native of Hindman, taught band and chorus until her retirement in 2012. Describing teaching as “a joy,” she returned to the profession in 2013. She and Randy, a former judge-executive in Knott County, also own the radio station WKCB, which is fitting because music has played such a significant role in her life and the lives of her family.

“My father, Ray Slone, was an algebra teacher, but his hobby was music. His parents made him a banjo out of coffee cans and groundhog skins,” Marcia says with a laugh. “He played the fiddle and mandolin and became acquainted with Bill Monroe at festivals. Our family folk band played on the Grand Ole Opry twice while I was in high school.”

Marcia’s daughters continued the family tradition. They credit their musical backgrounds with helping prepare them for careers in medicine.

Jessica, who recently graduated from the Kentucky College of Optometry, says, “Playing an instrument isn’t an easy task. It takes great time and patience, along with eye-hand coordination. Many times, while in the clinic, I must maneuver a slit lamp while simultaneously using forceps to remove a metal object from an eye. Playing different musical instruments definitely assisted in the development of my eye-hand coordination skills to perform such tasks.”

“I think music impacted my medical career by teaching me to be dedicated to something while also being creative and having to think outside of the box, which is necessary for patients with complex medical problems,” says Alicia, a 2019 graduate of KYCOM and a first-year resident in internal medicine at UK.

Tiffany Thompson-Strouth, a 2012 graduate of KYCOM and an obstetrician/gynecologist at Pikeville Medical Center, agrees with her sisters.

“I feel like the ability to play the piano or a stringed instrument helps my dexterity, especially when performing advanced surgical procedures. Musical performance builds confidence, which is essential in delivering outstanding medical care.”

Music also introduced Tiffany to UPIKE.

“Every week, my parents would bring me to piano lessons at Pikeville College. All of us took lessons, so you would wait on the other sibling to finish while you were waiting for your turn. I would work on homework during that time, but I would also walk around Condit Hall to look out the window at the campus. I can remember the construction occurring with the Armington Learning Center to prepare for the medical school. It was such an extraordinary project to think about as a child; this is a place where physicians are going to be made.”

Years later, Tiffany and her sisters would take classes in Armington.

“All of our classes were held in (Armington’s) Chrisman Auditorium,” Ashley recalls. “I remember the construction and groundbreaking of the new state-ofthe-art Coal Building and the transition into the new facilities. It was so amazing to have one of the most technologically advanced medical training facilities here in Eastern Kentucky. Learning in the OMT lab on the penthouse of the Coal Building, with 360-degree views of the mountains, is a beautiful experience that you cannot receive anywhere else but Pikeville.”

“As a member of the inaugural class of KYCO, I remember my first year of optometry school, during which I attended classes on the fourth floor of Armington while the Health Professions Education Building was being built,” Jessica says. “Toward the end of my first year, the facility was complete. It was amazing to attend classes in a new building with the most up-to-date technology in the optometric world.”

UPIKE’s mission, small class size and location drew the sisters to the university.

“There is a certain level of accountability that accompanies having a professor know your name, your background and your career goals,” Ashley says. “I also chose UPIKE because of the location. The support system is a key component to medical school success, and having my family nearby truly helped me survive the grueling first two classroom years of medical school training. My grandmother, who lives in Pikeville, cooked a huge dinner every Monday evening, and was a consistent reminder of the love and support I had throughout this process.”

A close family, which includes brother Matthew, a pharmacy student at Sullivan University, and Brittany, a music teacher at Hazard High School, the siblings call on one another for support and praise their parents for setting a high bar for success.

According to Tiffany, “Our parents instilled the attitude there were no limits for success. Whether it was studying for a spelling test, preparing for a church play or practicing the piano, they encouraged us to strive for the best. They took the time to patiently coach step-by-step and used positive feedback when setbacks were encountered.” strive for success whether we were learning to read, ride a bicycle, swim or perform a back handspring at gymnastics. We knew the importance of putting forth one hundred percent effort or devoting the necessary time into each activity or goal we attempted.”

“Both (of our parents) have worked their entire lives not only making sure we were well provided for but also helping others in our community of Southeast Kentucky,” Alicia says. “That’s what I want to do as well; give back to the people of this area.”

Her sisters share similar sentiments about the region.

Ashley notes, “I have witnessed first-hand the disparities and barriers to appropriate healthcare that patients in our region have faced, particularly in regards to lung disease, and I want to provide the highest level of care to our people without having to travel outside of the region.”

“My ultimate goal once I am finished with my training is to practice in Southeast Kentucky,” Alicia says. “I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. I love the mountains, but even more than that, I truly care about the people of this area and want to be able to provide them with quality care here at home.”

Tiffany says, “This is the place that diligently trained and carefully molded me into a physician. There are some patients I see today who helped me learn when I was a medical student. I loved being on rotations in East Kentucky because our facilities sincerely needed the extra set of hands. Whether it was helping coach a new mom during a delivery, assisting in closing a laceration in the emergency room or grabbing a warm blanket in the operating room for a patient, this area made me feel like I belonged.”

Although she completed her residency training in Ohio, Tiffany returned to Pikeville to practice medicine. Or, as Marcia reflects about all her children, “Your heart always goes back home.”