Curtains up, white coat on: Meet the Tony-Winning DO who bridges medicine and Broadway

For most, osteopathic medicine and Broadway may seem worlds apart. But for Jeffrey S. Grove, DO, the two worlds have intersected in ways that have shaped both his medical career and his creative pursuits. A third-generation DO, physician leader and Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, Dr. Grove traces his path to the theater back to a longtime friendship with his osteopathic medical school roommate, Michael Jackowitz, DO, who went on to build a career on Broadway.

After Dr. Jackowitz’s first Broadway production earned a Tony nomination, he invited Dr. Grove to New York, and soon after asked him to join his production company. Dr. Grove has since gone on to co-produce multiple shows, including “Once on This Island,” which won the 2018 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Today, he continues to balance Broadway producing with leadership in osteopathic medicine, advocacy and philanthropy.

In celebration of NYC Broadway Week, Jan. 20 – Feb. 12, 2026, in which patrons are offered two-for-one tickets to select Broadway shows, we spoke with Dr. Grove about his dual journeys in osteopathic medicine and Broadway. In this edited interview, he shares insights about his multigenerational osteopathic legacy and discusses how advocacy, health equity and mentorship continue to guide his work.

What initially drew you to Broadway producing, and how does that creative work reflect or connect to your values in osteopathic medicine?

I’ve always liked theater. I’ve had season tickets for many years. My osteopathic medical school roommate, Michael Jackowitz, DO, was one of my best friends, and he really wanted to be on Broadway.

Over the years, we stayed in touch. While I was building my career in the osteopathic medical profession, he was building his career on Broadway. His first show was “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” starring Daniel Radcliffe. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, and he invited me up to see his show.

About a month later, he asked me to become a part of his Broadway production company. At that point, I had already been involved in so many things and was going to become a Broadway producer, all because of Mike.

I took some courses at The Broadway League, and we were off and running. The first production I was involved in was an off-Broadway show called “Daddy Long Legs.” My first Broadway musical was “Tuck Everlasting,” followed by “Once on This Island,” which won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 2018.

I’m currently working on a new musical called “Dark of the Moon,” which will premiere in London. We’re hoping it will transfer to the West End and then to Broadway. Mike and I also have another show that’s going to start in Honolulu about Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, and her sister Hiʻiaka.

Winning a Tony Award is an incredible milestone. What was that moment like for you?

What a big life moment. I had never been to the Tony Awards. I’d watched it on TV, of course, but to be nominated for the first time was incredible. My son and daughter, along with my good friend Gregory James, DO, and my partner in my medical practices, Gene DiBetta Jr., DO, and his wife were all able to come.

“Once on This Island” was nominated for several lesser awards before the Tonys, but we didn’t win anything. “My Fair Lady” or “Carousel” were winning everything, so we figured it would be fun, but we were probably not going to win, though we were nominated in six different categories. At the end of the night, though, when they announced the Best Revival of a Musical winner, they called our name, and it was surreal to go up on that stage. I hope someday I can repeat it.

Do you have a dream production or a particular type of show you’d love to work on in the future?

I’d like to see my first productions, “Daddy Long Legs” and “Tuck Everlasting,” come back. The shows were successful, and we got nominated for some awards. I’d love to see “Tuck Everlasting” have its day. Otherwise, a musical about a fashion designer would be cool to work on someday.

Switching gears back to your career as a DO: You are a third-generation DO, following in your grandfather’s, father’s and uncle’s footsteps. How has that legacy shaped your career path?

My grandfather graduated from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM) and both of his sons, my dad and my uncle, graduated from Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (MWU/CCOM), and my great-uncle graduated from A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM).

Obviously, all of them were DOs, but also family medicine physicians. Once upon a time, I said, “Gosh, I don’t know what I’m going to do career-wise, but I see everybody else becoming osteopathic physicians, so I guess that’s what I’m going to do!” I like helping others, so it felt natural for me to apply to medical school.

I attended Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM). The weight of being a “legacy” student always made me feel like I had to try a little bit harder. I remember the very early days of my internship and thinking that I was so overwhelmed, thinking I was never going to be able to do this. But knowing how many people in my family did it, I always tried to work a little bit harder. That mindset was certainly a big part of why I got into leadership. I feel, in a sense, responsible for ensuring that the profession and its legacy keep going, because that’s what inspired me.

I have absolutely no regrets. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Looking back over your career, are there particular experiences or patients that shaped how you approach medicine and your role in the community?

I started out practicing with my dad, which was a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing in that I knew where I was going to be able to work, but a curse in that dads can sometimes be hard on you. As I got more involved in the practice, I brought my residency training to that role and eventually began doing rounds on our patients in the hospital and doing more procedures in-office. We decided we were going to open a second office. Eventually, that grew into a whole network of offices, now with 14 locations.

Early on in my career, two of my patients were the mayor of Belleair Bluffs and his wife. Later, I treated the mayor of Largo and his family. It led me to make house calls, which made me very happy.

My grandfather used to do house calls as well, and one of his patients was a little old lady who lived on a farm. My grandfather visited her once per week, and when she passed away, she willed him a punch bowl, which then went to my parents, and now I’ve inherited it. That story helped shape me and helps me provide personal, above and beyond care.

How do you balance your clinical practice, multiple leadership positions and philanthropic endeavors?

I was blessed to have great mentors, like AOA Past President Marcelino Oliva, DO, Robert George, DO, and Ronnie Martin, DO, who helped usher me in. I got to do so many things at such an early age. It was Dr. Oliva who really helped push me along in the beginning.

Again, that weight of responsibility and wanting to do good and make a difference inspired me to get involved. Because of my family lineage, I practiced family medicine. I went on to become the president of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP). The first philanthropic thing I ever did was start a scholarship in my name at NSU-KPCOM, which still exists today. I’ve also started scholarships with the ACOFP Foundation, and after achieving success in the Broadway arena, I started a scholarship at my alma mater, FSC, in my name for theater students.

After becoming the president of the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF), I was very fortunate to have a great Board supporting me and all of the things I wanted to do in the LGBTQIA+ arena, like helping create AOF’s LGBTQIA+ Health Equity and Inclusion Initiative. I started a scholarship through the AOF as well intended for LGBTQIA+ osteopathic medical students.

Tell me more about how your own experience and identity inspired you to spearhead the LGBTQIA+ initiatives with AOF.

For a long time, the profession knew me as married to my wife, but at some point, I had figured out myself. One of the biggest reasons, by far, that I wouldn’t come out was because I was worried about what the profession would think of me. I thought I wouldn’t be allowed to lead, especially on a national level. After my wife and I divorced and I met a new partner, I had to tell my ACOFP Board. I was so nervous about people finding out, but I wanted to make a difference, like my mentors Drs. Oliva, George and Martin.

After I came out to my ACOFP Board, I had so much support, and as ACOFP president, I was able to start the LGBTQ+ Reception at our annual conference. It’s become one of the biggest attractions at this national convention.

A few years ago, when the conference was in Chicago, I remember meeting a 70-year-old gentleman who told me he saw the reception listed on the program. He said, “I had to come to this. I’m gay. I never thought I’d live to see the day that this would happen in our profession.” We were both crying. It was a very powerful moment.

How do you believe osteopathic medical education is uniquely positioned to support health equity for LGBTQIA+ patients?

We’ve got a great profession. Osteopathic physicians are really dialed in. The osteopathic philosophy of care aligns well with what many LGBTQIA+ patients need. We’re so holistic to begin with, and we have the knowledge and awareness to practice empathy.

Even if a DO isn’t part of that community themselves, many of them are allies and are very open-minded. Awareness of the needs of the LGBTQIA+ population needs to be talked about more, and I’m happy that that’s what we’ve been able to start doing.

What advice would you offer to medical students, especially those from marginalized communities, who want to combine their medical careers with advocacy and activism?

Osteopathic medicine is advocacy and activism in and of itself. My advice is to find great mentors like I had. Show up and participate and advocate. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to leaders in the profession or introduce yourself to me. We are happy to help.

I’ve met so many courageous osteopathic medical students who are already leaders in their own right, and who’ve won the AOF scholarship, and I’m so impressed by them and their desire to make such a difference.

After everything you’ve built, in medicine, advocacy and the arts, what’s the next chapter you’re hoping to write?

I’m going to continue to stay involved. I’ve been lucky enough to keep being invited to be a part of our state delegation to the House of Delegates. I’m involved with the Osteopathic Political Action Committee (OPAC) and plan to stay with that. I’ll be around to support everybody and serve as a mentor in any way that I can.

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