Ty Albans, Southaven
Northpoint Christian School
Winning Essay
Family physicians provide a wide variety of care for family members of every age. Their role is not limited by age, like a pediatrician, or by specialty, like a dermatologist. I had the pleasure of meeting my friend’s father, Dr. Mettetal of Mettetal Family Medicine in Sardis, MS at one of our football practices. He began by telling my friends and me to call him Doc. He was friendly and easy to talk to, which are great personality traits to have as a family physician. We talked for a while on the sideline, and I got to learn about him and the details of his career.
Doc shared some of the areas in which he has given his service throughout his career. He has been a member of six different professional organizations including Panola Partnership Board of Directors and Tri Lake Medical Center Board of Directors, and he actively serves on the Mississippi State Medical Association Medical Advisory Committee. The time and dedication he gives to these organizations exhibit his care for his community and the people around him. Each time I am with the Mettetal family, Doc treats me like one of his own. I have no doubt that he takes this approach working with patients in his clinic as well. I have several friends in the Sardis area and they all say they and their family have gone to Mettetal Family Medicine for years because of the sincere care and generosity Doc provides. Not only does he ensure that his patients obtain the best care, but he also connects with them, treating them on a familiar level by showing interest in their families, hobbies, careers, etc.
Something that struck me as special about Doc is how involved he is in his children’s lives. Individuals in the medical field, especially family physicians serving their whole community, tend to get caught up in their work, and they have minimal leftover time to spend with their families. Doc made his children a priority, ensuring he was at every football or softball game cheering them on as one of the loudest fans in the stands. One of my favorite memories was coming home from a football game several hours away, and Doc had been at the school for over an hour grilling burgers and hot dogs for our team. His generous, caring nature spills over into every aspect of his life.
I reached out to Doc to get a personal statement about the impact he feels he has had on his community. Because of his modesty, he explained that the question was difficult to answer because he tries to make a difference in every interaction he has with others. This response made me reflect on myself and my aspirations for the future. Doc has inspired me and many others with his giving heart the way he has fulfilled God’s purpose for his life. He has been a primary influence in my decision to pursue the medical field with the talents God has blessed me with to serve in a capacity where I can impact and encourage others.