OB-GYN makes great strides throughout land and sea in leadership roles

The osteopathic profession is blessed with more than its fair share of rock star physicians these days. Marydonna Ravasio, DO, is certainly one of them. Dr. Ravasio specializes in obstetrics and gynecology and is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She practices at Greater Pittsburgh OB-GYN as the assistant clinical professor at Magee Women’s Hospital. We recently sat down (virtually) to discuss her unique journey and her multifaceted career.

Dr. Ravasio, tell the readers a little bit about your background.

I was born in Johnstown, in the western part of Pennsylvania between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. My mom was a cardiac ICU nurse, so I grew up with a strong medical and health care influence. My eighth-grade science fair project was on the heart. It even included a Swan-Ganz catheter!

Wow. I think mine was a solar system made out of Styrofoam balls.

I did all the research and all the work on it myself, and my interest in medicine as a career was off and running. Even in high school, I knew I wanted to go to medical school. I thought the best option for me, for several reasons, would be to attend one of the Service Academies and then apply from there.

I was fortunate to secure a nomination and then an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, New York, and I entered there in 1985. It was usually a two-track curriculum. You chose either marine engineering (learning to manage the engine room and propulsion systems on large cargo ships) or marine transportation, which qualified you to be a bridge officer. I decided to do both. That was uncommon but not unheard of at the time.

It must have been challenging, to say the least.

You could say that. The academic course load was formidable. And there were months-long stretches at sea, putting all that navigational and engineering knowledge into practical use. My class at Kings Point was 10% women. Today it’s around 20%. So it was, and still is, a male-dominated line of work. I graduated from Kings Point with a bachelor’s degree in 1989.

Although I enjoyed being a mariner, my focus was always on being a physician. But as a graduate of the USMMA, like any of the Academies, I had a service requirement to fulfill. I spent five years as a lieutenant in the US Navy Merchant Marine Reserve (MMR) while simultaneously fulfilling my obligation to the Maritime Administration by working as an engineer/defense contractor. In 1991, I volunteered to go to sea in support of Operation Desert Storm, which led me to circumnavigating the globe.

That’s quite a resume, considering it’s only Part One of your master plan.

Next, I enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown campus (UPJ) for the med school prerequisite courses. I spent summers overseeing docked merchant ships, oftentimes at the Port of New Orleans. I attended UPJ for two years, majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry. I earned my second BS in 1994.

No credit for Celestial Navigation, I assume?

Unfortunately, no. And, for the record, I loved Celestial Navigation. So there were more semesters with heavy credit-hour loads, but it made the most sense, considering the time window and the courses I needed. I started applying to med schools right away and was accepted at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Erie, Pennsylvania—about three hours north of where I grew up.

I received my DO degree in 1998, 13 years after I graduated from high school. I did my osteopathic internship year at Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. It was an outstanding teaching institution, and I stayed there for my OB-GYN residency as well.

You’ll forgive my simplistic interpretation, but OB-GYN is kind of like a double major.

I guess you could look at it that way. I did consider other specialties early on, including cardiology and even cardiothoracic surgery. But I realized pretty quickly that OB-GYN was the right one for me. I had great mentors who encouraged and advised me along the way. Anthony Piccolo, DO, in York was a tremendous influence and a true role model. I love both aspects of the specialty: obstetrics and gynecology. And the American College of Osteopathic Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOOG) is a phenomenal organization. It is absolutely committed to and invested in mentoring students and young physicians.

You’re a Distinguished Fellow of ACOOG, and we’ll talk more about your involvement, but you’ve done some other pretty interesting things throughout your medical career.

My medical career has provided me with a lot of unique opportunities. And the U.S. Merchant Marine experience has as well. I’ve always loved teaching. I was a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps for several years and taught residents at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. I have taught students from LECOM, and I continue to teach students and residents in the hospitals and offices where I now practice. I’m an assistant clinical professor in the OB-GYN Department at Magee Women’s Hospital, which is part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). I’ve been recognized for my teaching contributions, which really means a lot to me.

You’ve been in leadership positions since med school. ACOOG seems like it was a perfect fit for your skills and talents.

I had leadership mentors at ACOOG from the very beginning. I’ve served on multiple committees and was honored to be elected to serve as president of our college in 2021. I continue to serve on committees, and I’m currently the chair of our Medical Education Foundation. There’s always work to do, and I enjoy being part of it. I’m especially excited about our ongoing mentoring program. Any interested students, residents or practicing physicians are welcome to benefit from the wealth of shared knowledge and experience ACOOG possesses, from advice on how to choose a rotation or a training program to guidance on handling a tough or unusual case. They can visit ACOOG’s site and click on Resources for more information.

You’ve taken on the sea, the land and the myriad challenges of clinical practice. Where to next—up?

After the USMMA, I had some exposure to the space and defense sectors, but I think I’ll keep my feet on the ground for now. I have a variety of non-medical interests and pursuits that keep me busy. I recently earned a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree. I’m always trying to prepare myself for what might lie ahead in the next chapters of my career.

Any thoughts on what those chapters might be titled? You don’t strike me as someone looking at an early retirement.

No, no early retirement plans. I do think about transitions, though. If I could choose a path forward, it would always involve teaching. Those 3 a.m. emergency C-sections eventually take their toll, but OB-GYN, as a dual kind of specialty, provides the opportunity to stay involved in clinical medicine well into the future. I would miss the patients, students and residents too much to just walk away.

The number of osteopathic medical schools is growing. Two of their biggest needs are going to be clinical faculty and physician leadership. Could you see yourself as Dean Ravasio somewhere?

I could definitely see myself at a medical school at some point, as long as I could maintain teaching responsibilities and the opportunity to personally interact with and mentor students. Having an MHA would help me navigate the other side of the medical school reality, but I would always consider myself an educator first.

Any final thoughts for the aspiring students and young physicians reading this?

Never let obstacles, real or perceived, stand in the way of your goals. If getting there means some extra courses, some extra miles or even some extra years, just accept that and keep making headway. Detours, workarounds and course corrections are part of life.

Know that being a DO is an advantage these days. And know that someone who can help you is more likely to notice you. But realize you may need to work extra hard to earn that help. Get involved early and, more importantly, stay involved with the DO profession. Take advantage of every mentoring and networking opportunity you can find. And make sure you are actively navigating your career path.

Terrific advice, especially from a seasoned mariner. Thank you, Dr. Ravasio, for taking the time to share your story and your experiences with us.

Related reading:

No Limits: DO cardiothoracic surgeon has made a name for herself in the field

No Limits: A conversation with Dr. Shapiro