MOAMEMBER IN THE NEWS

David Wolf, D.O.
David Wolf, D.O., has had his ups and downs in life but through his faith, his love of the osteopathic profession and his family of loved ones, colleagues and patients, he is rolling right along.  The term “rolling” is quite literal in Dr. Wolf’s life as it refers to the wheelchair he travels in since a life-altering accident in 2001.  But while his go-kart racing accident left him paralyzed from the waist down and impeded his mobility, it didn’t rob him of his love for the practice of osteopathic medicine or his commitment to the residents and patients he interacts with in his obstetrics and gynecological work. 

“It is a special honor to be involved in so many peoples’ lives on a day-in and day-out basis.  Most of the patients I see I have cared for for years.  I have seen them through pregnancies and delivered their children which fosters a very special patient/physician relationship,” explains Dr. Wolf. “I am proud to have been a part of their life and it is a real joy to share in their successes, failures and to be able to get inside their hearts to find out who they really are as individuals.”  This same pride shines through when Dr. Wolf recounts his work with residents as the program director of the Obstetrics/Gynecological (OB/GYN) Residency Program at Henry Ford Wyandotte.  “There is no greater honor than to be a part of a young person’s life as they pursue their career as an obstetrician/gynecologist.”

Dr. Wolf’s desire to become a physician began in the fourth grade and he never faltered on this plan.  He channeled his efforts toward osteopathic medical school and graduated from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in 1974.  “There are two aspects of being an osteopathic physician; one is the use of osteopathic manual medicine therapy and just as important is the desire to know all about the patient,” says Dr. Wolf.  Patient-centered care is a key part of the osteopathic philosophy and D.O.s consider all aspects of their patient’s lives (family, work, diet, exercise and other outside influences) when working with patients to diagnose a problem.  “It is my opinion that osteopathic physicians are more caring and understanding than most of our allopathic counterparts.  I am not exactly sure why that is true except for the philosophies that are integrated in osteopathic medical education.”

Dr. Wolf’s greatest joy and effort as an osteopathic physician is that he found a way to always “be there” for his patients.  “I chose the field of OB/GYN in part because it offered me the opportunity to practice a form of medicine in which I could become close with my patients, work in partnership with them,” says Dr. Wolf. “Through out the years being accessible to my patients has been an extremely important attribute in developing the very special patient/physician relationship that I have with my patients.”  Dr. Wolf always shares his home and cell phone numbers with patients and no matter what the day’s schedule looks like always takes time with each patient.  By being there Dr. Wolf emphasizes that he hoped his patients would know that he cared about them.  “In reality my patients have always given me more back than I have given them.”