Profiles in Giving (PDF)

Laurie Draughon '85: A Dream Realized

Dr. Laurie Draughon

"From the time I was a little kid, I wanted to be doctor," says Dr. Laurie Draughon. But after college, she put her dream on hold for marriage and family.

Following a divorce, Laurie Draughon decided it was time to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. However, she soon discovered that many medical schools viewed single mothers as less-than-ideal candidates for medical training. "They thought you couldn't be a good mother and a good student and doctor, so I wasn't accepted, despite my good grades," she says, adding, "but Dartmouth gave me a chance."

In gratitude to DMS for giving her the chance to realize her dream, Laurie Draughon makes annual gifts to the Fund for DMS. "Dartmouth gave me a good combination of clinical work and academics, so I could make the career decision that was right for me," she says.

Dr. Draughon pursued a career in internal medicine and worked for years as a hospitalist. Recently, she has parlayed her skills in coordinating patient care into her own business, called Adult Med House-Call Physicians. True to the name, Dr. Draughon makes house calls, providing basic in-home medical care and services to elderly and chronically ill patients. In addition, she accompanies her patients to their primary care physician appointments, where she helps "ensure that the doctor gets all the necessary information and that the patient and family have a better understanding of the illness and their options," she says.

The road wasn't easy, but Laurie Draughon says, "I consider myself very lucky that I went to Dartmouth. It gave me an excellent education."

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