Brian Sammon ’09 still lives closely by the Delt ideal of “Committed to Excellence.” In his work as a physician, it often serves to remind him why it’s so important to go the extra mile, like staying late after a shift to call a patient with urgent lab results, or spending extra time educating a patient who seems confused. Now, Brian is taking that value with him on a new venture: starting his own medical practice.
We caught up with Brian to learn more about the unique features of his upcoming business, and how DTD has contributed along the way.
Q: What led you to choose DTD over other organizations?
A: Delta Tau Delta at Miami caught my eye early during rush since they were re-establishing a colony. It was a chance to be part of something new and fresh. I knew there would be leadership opportunities to build a campus chapter from scratch, and as a founding member, a chance to contribute to the Delt experience for classes to come.
Q: What was your DTD experience like during that unique period?
A: I'm guessing it may be different from the current Delt experience. When I was a freshman, we repossessed the Shelter on Tallawanda, but it wasn't livable. We mainly used the Shelter for chapter meetings, rush, and small events at the house. Since we didn't have a day-to-day presence in the Shelter, the fraternity was scattered all across campus, and I think that a strong sense of brotherhood helped bring us all together.
Q: What have you been up to since graduating?
A: I just graduated family medicine residency at the end of June, which marked the completion of eight years of medical training (five years at the Athens campus of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and three years at Doctors’ Hospital Family Medicine Residency). Other than medical training, I've tried to stay physically active. I've done three triathlons, a Warrior Dash, and a Tough Mudder.
Q: Can you tell us more about the medical practice you’ll be opening soon?
A: Yes, very excited! It is a different delivery model of primary care called Direct Primary Care, and it is a national grassroots movement. The concept is that of a membership model: instead of billing insurance for primary care needs, the doctor and patient enter into direct monthly payment of a low, flat, transparent membership fee for all primary care needs. Included in the membership are increased time with the physician and unique increased access to the physician (phone, text, email your doctor directly with questions; same-day and weekend appointments; telemedicine and electronic visits; home visits).
We also plan on having an in-office pharmacy and dispensing whole-sale generic medications directly to patients, often beating the price of retail pharmacies. We will be able to network with national laboratory services to get significant discounts on labs ordered (some basic labs can be as cheap as $5-10 per lab that we can offer our members, but in the traditional healthcare system it is not uncommon to see these basic labs cost $40-50 per lab!). We also plan to partner with a local orthopedic group for discounts on X-Rays, and have a lead on discounted MRI services in the area as well. You can check out my website (www.drsammon.com), which has more information, as well as a FAQ page. We plan to open on October 1, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio.
Q: How has DTD had a lasting impact on your life?
A: I think that the ideals and values of Delta Tau Delta are not just confined to the undergraduate years, but easily transferable even after college. Every man is called to live a life “Committed to Excellence” in whichever path they take after graduation. For me, and in my field of work as a physician, that means delivering personalized and empathetic healthcare every single day to my patients. It might mean staying late after my shift ends to call a patient with an urgent lab result, or spending an extra few minutes educating a patient on a disease process if I perceive confusion. With my new business venture, it is having the courage to embark on a new journey that I feel is right to deliver more affordable healthcare with more patient engagement and satisfaction than the current paradigm of medicine.
Q: How have you kept in touch with brothers?
A: Social media and Facebook help to keep some of the bonds of brotherhood alive with my past classmates, and it is great for networking opportunities too. I do have the good fortune that my big also lives in Columbus currently, so we have gone to a few concerts and kept in touch throughout the years.
