Dr. Bruce Peters is an Osteopathic Physician who specializes in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Addiction Medicine while working as a full time Professor and Chairs the Pediatrics Department at Nova Southeastern University, Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. He currently trains medical students on how to become doctors and train new doctors (interns and residents) how to become even better doctors in their chosen specialty or field of study. He currently oversees the Pediatric departments and training in both their Tampa/Clearwater and the Fort Lauderdale/Davie campuses. He is also responsible for training of their medical students both in Pediatrics and other courses both locally and all over the country until they graduate. He currently serves on multiple committees, teaches in multiple courses while using the latest technology including Virtual Reality and online learning.
His career path did not start in medicine as he was raised by his single mom who cleaned houses for a living while he attended public schools in Chicago. His mom who was born in Arkansas had to quit school in 8th grade to raise her younger brothers and sister after her parents had died. Eventually his mom moved to Chicago to make a better life for her siblings and eventually got married. Dr. Peters dad left shortly after he was born and was never a factor in his life. So, Dr. Peters started his work career as a child collecting soda pop bottles and returning them to the stores for money so they could survive. He later got a job delivering newspapers before and after school which contributed to his allowance. All of this was while he was in elementary school and his first big break that spiraled him toward medicine came through an unusual circumstance.
One of the houses his mom cleaned on a regular basis was a doctor who delivered him who lived with 4 dogs who stayed in the house when the doctor was there but otherwise was always outside. She could never find someone to feed and clean up behind them, so his mom volunteered her son who was now in middle school and the rest is history. That one opportunity provided the humbleness and work ethic that showed the doctor there was something different about this child that caused her to invest her time, energy, and occasionally resources to help mentor him and started him thinking about becoming a doctor instead of a baseball or basketball player, or even a truck driver like his father.
From that one job while in middle school he learned what hard work, a positive attitude, while remaining humble and the opportunities and successes this could provide. Through the prayers of his mother who always took him to church was part of his motivation to always do his best, strive for excellence, remain humble, and be willing to help others along the way. He not only worked all through middle and high school with a variety of jobs, he continued working while attending college at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL where he graduated with a BA in Biochemistry, 1979. He even worked part of the time to support himself through medical school at Midwestern University where he finished with his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (1984) before moving on to Cook County Hospital where he completed his residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics (1988).
Since then, Dr. Peters medical career has spanned almost 40 years working in Chicago, Kansas City, New York, and now Florida. He has taught in both allopathic and osteopathic institutions including Midwestern University, Rush Medical school, KCUMB, TouroCOM, FIU and others. He has also directed multiple clinics in both Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Substance Abuse, while also leading outpatient and inpatient Child Abuse Programs, chairing clinical departments, and was the founding Clinical Dean for Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem when they opened in 2006-07.
He is currently married to his wife of 34 years and counting and has 2 sons, Ben and Joshua, who empties his pockets regularly as they are both in college. He currently enjoys travel, sports, music, and just volunteering his time locally at churches, homeless shelters/venues, and wherever young people and their families are located to make a difference serving others through his God given talents. He currently serves on the Safety Team and Dream Center at Grace Family Church in Tampa, FL. and is a former Lay Pastor of Oasis Church in Pembroke Pines, FL.
Saturday, April 29, 2023
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
2023 James M. Watson Memorial Lecture - Preparing the Next Generation of Medical Students to Enter into the Field of Osteopathic Pediatrics