South Jersey Man To Graduate Med School Despite Disability
by Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A South Jersey man who is legally blind is preparing for his big day-- graduation from medical school.
In just a few days, 27-year-old Jeffrey Gazzara will graduate from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. But he won't be your typical doctor.
"I have retinitis pigmentosa," he says. Gazzarra is referring to RP, the degenerative retinal disorder he was diagnosed with at age 12.
Over the years, it has caused the Penn grad to lose his peripheral and night vision. But the former football and baseball player has refused to let it stop him from pursing his dream of becoming a sports medicine doctor.
"I just do things a little differently," says Gazzara, who refused to learn braille or use visual aids early on.
"So many adults were telling me what I needed to do," he says, "my take was-- I'll do it when I need it."
During his years in college at the University of Pennsylvania, he began to use those aids, like computerized devices that utilize black screens with white letters to make it easier to read. He also lives near school and learns his route, so he can make it back and forth to class with minimal assistance.
But Gazzara says he had quite a few naysayers and negative opinions that he had to overcome.
"When that many people tell you you can't do something-- it's hard not to believe them," he says, noting that he relied on positive people and friends and pushed forward.
On June 5, Gazzara will graduate with a D.O. with a focus on neuro-muscular medicine. While he won't be able to perform surgeries or invasive procedures, he will be able to use his sense of touch to identify muscle, nerve and bone disorders.
"If I can get my hands on it-- honestly, I do pretty well, I do pretty well," he says with confidence.
Jeff's determination scored him a residency in Michigan and he's not stopping. He's hopeful stem cell research and other advances in the treatment of RP will help prevent further vision loss. In the meantime, he'll keep working toward his dream.
"This is something that I can do, this is something that could become spectacular," he says.
He's taken the mantle of spokesperson of the Vision Walk that will take place this October in Philadelphia.
"I'm hoping that by getting my story out there, it inspires other people," he says, "and show the world we are very capable-- and sometimes you have to take a step back...and see what we can do."
