September-October 2001

Mike McKee, MD Photo by Jon M. Fletcher The Gainesville Sun

New Deaf Doctor

Florida Physician Silences Doubters

Last spring, Mike McKee graduated from the University of Florida College of Medicine—and joined the ranks of the nation’s deaf doctors.

McKee, who was born deaf, took some of his classes with a sign language interpreter.

“My first reaction when he came to work with us was—no way!” said Dr. Siegfried Schmidt at the Department of Community Health and Family Medicine at West Oaks. “But as you got to know him, Mike came across as someone with a special sense for patient needs. How he communicated…just blew my mind. Patients often opened up to him in a way I have not seen.”

Already McKee has proved to be an asset in the hospital.

When a little boy had to have his arms and legs amputated, McKee, who understood what it was like to live with a handicap, was a special support. When a deaf patient arrived, he was called away from other work to take the patient’s history in sign language.

“I really have compassion for patients and enthusiasm for medicine,” said Dr. McKee.

— The Gainesville Sun

A Teacher Offers Hope —
and a Student Finds His Life Turning Point

By Andrew Paluch
Northeast Catholic High School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My freshman honors biology teacher, Mr. Marchese, had a profound effect on me. In the beginning, I went to him simply for math help, but his enthusiasm and love for biology influenced me.

I will never forget that day when Mr. Marchese told me that, like myself, he was born with a hearing difficulty. At first I was taken aback, but then I realized what great things people can do when they set goals for themselves and work hard.

Mr. Marchese taught me the value of hard work and of having a dream and living it out. I learned that although I may have trouble hearing, my mind and heart are in the right places and therefore I will succeed.

Mr. Marchese’s words still echo in my mind. “Perseverance and patience are the things that light the fire of a dream,” he said. “If someone says you can’t, it just means that you have to work harder.”

Before I thought what a curse it was to not be able to hear correctly, but I found out I was wrong. Throughout history there have been and there will continue to be people who have transcended physical challenges. These people are given a greater challenge to work with and overcome.

Thanks to Mr. Marchese I have a developed a love for math and biology.
I really believe that meeting Mr. Marchese was a turning point in my life and helped me to pursue my right direction.

Andrew Paluch won a commendable award in the 2001 Gallaudet National Essay Contest. The contest theme was “A Turning Point.”