The family business: When mother and daughter both choose osteopathic medicine

For these families, osteopathic medicine isn’t just a career; it’s a shared language. This Mother’s Day, The DO is celebrating mother-daughter duos who have navigated the rigors of medicine side-by-side.

We sat down with four pairs of mother-daughter osteopathic physicians/future physicians to explore how shared values can bridge the gap between different generations of healthcare. By embracing a common philosophy of care, these women have built a unique support system that allows them to thrive as both clinicians and kin.

In these families, whole-person care is the foundation of a generational bond that prioritizes the human connection.

Read on for a closer look at these four multigenerational legacies:

Nelayda Fonte, DO, and Kaili Yap, OMS I

Trauma surgeon Nelayda Fonte, DO, never romanticized the blood, sweat and missed dinners that define a life in the OR. So when her daughter, Kaili Yap, OMS I, chose the same path, Dr. Fonte knew she had a true passion for medicine. From a “diagnosis of exclusion” to a shared presidential run, the duo shares a candid look at choosing a challenging vocation with your eyes wide open. Read more.

Kate Galluzzi, DO, and Claire Bogan, DO

From geriatric medicine to adolescent psychiatry, Katherine “Kate” Galluzzi, DO, and her daughter, Claire Bogan, DO, have the human story covered from beginning to end. Their journey, including a detour through a West Virginia commune and an early career in literature, has evolved into a powerful family legacy defined by community advocacy and a refusal to see any patient as just a diagnosis. Read more.

Mary Kennedy, DO, and Madeline Taber, OMS IV

For Mary Kennedy, DO, and her daughter, Madeline Taber, OMS IV, medicine isn’t just a career; it’s a vocation defined by the art of listening. As Dr. Taber prepares to graduate from ATSU-KCOM with a newborn daughter of her own, this Mother’s Day marks a rare four-generation celebration of healthcare. A legacy that began with a grandmother’s nursing career has evolved into a multigenerational commitment to showing up for patients. Read more.

Debra Lebo, DO, and Mikayla Maiuro, DO

When she was 13, Mikayla Maiuro, DO, wrote her mom a Mother’s Day letter affectionately labeling her the family’s best caregiver. Today, that childhood admiration has come full circle as Dr. Maiuro joins her mother, Debra Lebo, DO, in the world of osteopathic medicine. Their shared passion for the human touch remains the heartbeat of their practice and ensures that every patient feels like more than just a surgical case number. Read more.

Related reading:

How NYITCOM’s Emigre Physicians Program saves the dreams of immigrant physicians

First-generation medical student: Listening matters in uncharted waters

6 DOs, 1 amazing story: After escaping Vietnam in the ’70s, this family embraced osteopathic medicine