In Kirksville, Missouri, a milestone in motherhood and medicine

Mary Kennedy, DO, doesn’t see medicine as just a job. She sees it as a calling; a way of moving through the world that requires as much listening as it does leading. It’s a philosophy inherited by her mother, Barbara, that now has been passed down to her daughter, Madeline Taber, OMS IV.

“The most impactful person who inspired me to become an osteopathic physician was my mother,” Mary says. “She was a registered nurse who spoke frequently of the osteopathic physicians she worked with at the hospital. She appreciated their different approach, and how that impacted patients’ outcomes and healing.”

A milestone moment, times two

When Madeline walks across the A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) stage later this month, she’ll celebrate two major milestones at once: becoming a DO and a new mom. Her newborn daughter arrived just in time to witness her mother becoming the latest link in a family legacy. This year’s commencement will highlight a rare four-generation common thread that connects the past, present and future.

“It’s a very special and busy time for our family, and we’re looking forward to this next chapter, both personally and professionally,” Madeline shares.

This new family chapter will also mark a major professional milestone for Madeline and her husband, Keaton Taber, OMS IV, as they move to St. Louis to begin their residency training. Both Madeline and Keaton matched into the St. Luke’s Family Medicine residency program, a move that ensures the couple will be able to navigate the rigors of residency (and parenthood) together.

The Kirksville connection

That familial common thread also connects to Mary’s husband, Russ Kennedy, DO, and their son Nick Kennedy, D3, who is studying dentistry at ATSU’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health. With Nick set to graduate in 2027, all four of the Kennedys will soon be proud graduates of ATSU.

“Russ and I could not be happier that our children have followed our path to Kirksville,” Mary says. “After residency, my husband and I returned to ATSU-KCOM to practice and teach, so the children had an automatic connection to Kirksville from the beginning.”

Madeline describes her family as being full of strong personalities, with a shared mindset of working hard and enjoying life to the fullest.

“Medicine is a big part of who we are, and we genuinely love what we do,” Madeline says. “At the same time, the moments we spend together outside of medicine are just as important. Those are often fun, lively and, sometimes, a little chaotic. It’s a dynamic that keeps us grounded and connected; it’s where we feel the most comfortable.”

A specialty takes shape

With that connection, it came as no surprise to Mary that Madeline wanted to become an osteopathic physician as well, a career choice that makes Mary proud.

“Madeline was a very good student, and obviously her exposure to the field with both me and her father practicing family medicine allowed her interest to develop. I think she realized that how we practice is more of a vocation than a job,” she says.

Madeline herself chose to pursue family medicine, citing the desire to not have to “limit [herself] to one area of interest.”

“I’ve always valued building meaningful, long-term relationships with patients, and family medicine allows me to do just that,” Madeline says. “What draws me to the specialty the most is its breadth. I’m passionate about minor procedures, dermatology and managing chronic conditions, and family medicine allows me to incorporate all of those things into my daily practice.”

Regardless of specialty or even family legacy, both Mary and Madeline encourage future generations of osteopathic physicians to show up for patients.

“Always remember why you chose this path and your passion for serving others … staying grounded in your purpose is essential,” Madeline says. “At the end of the day, there will always be patients who need your care.”

Mary specifically highlights the focus on a hands-on approach that osteopathic physicians are known for: “Listen to the patient; often the diagnosis is revealed in their story. Ask questions and always examine the patient. Yes, there are advancements in medical technology, but a good examination technique will help direct your further testing and advance your diagnosis.”

The next chapter

As Madeline officially becomes a DO this summer, she represents the latest link in a chain that started with her grandmother’s nursing career and continued through her parents’ years of practice and teaching. Between Madeline and Keaton’s graduation and Nick’s progress in dental school, the family’s ties to ATSU and the osteopathic philosophy have become a central part of their shared identity.

Now, as the next generation arrives, that common thread is poised to continue. For the Kennedy-Taber women, medicine isn’t a complex legacy to live up to. It’s simply the family business of showing up for people, one patient (and one generation) at a time.

Other stories in this series:

Lessons from mom: Why personal connection is a physician’s best tool

Full-circle care: From children to centenarians

No glamour, all heart: Why this surgeon-mom is proud her daughter chose the same path