George Spyropoulos, DO A PILOT Preceptor
Clinical experience in community-based settings is an integral requirement of the training of medical and other health professions students. Physicians who serve as preceptors – instructors or mentors – perform an invaluable service for the young practitioners of tomorrow by accepting them into their practice so that students may develop their skills with their patients. Temple University School of Medicine sponsors the PILOT (Primary Initiative in Longitudinal Outpatient Training) program in which second year medical students who have completed their history and physical diagnosis course are placed into community based physicians’ offices.
George Spyropoulos, DO, is one preceptor in the PILOT program who consistently receives high ratings from the students he precepts. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, Dr. Spyropoulos achieved his medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in Philadelphia. He then did his internship in the Crozer-Keystone Health System. After completing his residency at the Medical Center of Delaware, which is now Christiana Care in Wilmington, Delaware, he has been a family physician in practice in West Chester, Pennsylvania, for eleven years. Dr. Spyropoulos says “Precepting is my way to give back to programs that taught me.”
Dr. Spyropoulos observes that the first two years in medical school are usually didactic, and exposing students to community experiences earlier can make a difference. “I find the second year students very receptive since the experience is new. They are very enthusiastic,” he says.
One of his second year trainees, Ryan Staszak, has returned to Dr. Sypropoulos’ practice for his third year family medicine clerkship. He says (Dr. Spyropoulos’ office) “is a really nice office to work with. The doctors are smart and do well with patient care so I wanted to come back.” He observes that since most of his time will be spent in a hospital setting during his training, “it’s nice to see community outpatient experience.”
Dr. Spyropoulos has two children, ages nine and seven, who keep him busy in his hours away from his practice. He also likes to read and travel, and enjoys sports.