Millennium Magazine_6th Ed

198 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine G rowing up with a hearing impairment, Dr. Mary Copley feared her condition would hinder her from her dream of building a career in the medical field. However, with great support from her family, friends and community, she was able to do even more. Dr. Copley received a BS in religion and Bible studies and also achieved an MS. In 1990, she graduated second in her class, obtaining an MD from the Marshall University Medical School. Dr. Copley currently works as a physician at Lincoln Primary Care in Hamlin, West Virginia, and at the Ebenezer Medical Outreach, Inc., in Huntington, West Virginia. While continuing her studies, Dr. Copley had the opportunity to travel to Africa and work with missionaries as a physician. During this time, she was able to connect with a wider range of patients and fuel her passion to serve others. Although it was originally her greatest worry, Dr. Copley attributes her success to her hearing limitations, as it pushed her to work harder. She found alternative ways to achieve her goal of working in medicine, and if not for her hearing issues, she might not have reached her end goal. Dr. Copley says she owes great thanks to her father, Edward Copley, whom she called a saint that encouraged her every day to be her best. She also thanks her sister, Judy Copley, for pushing her when she was down and reminding her that she can achieve anything to which she applies herself. From these lessons, Dr. Copley now works and lives by the motto, “Do what God tells me to do, and treat people with grace and dignity.” Dr. Copley is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and in her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, which she took up as a preteen through her local church. Looking ahead, Dr. Copley plans to continue working as a physician, and in her retirement, hopefully work part-time at local clinics. Dr. Copley’s advice to budding physicians is to be careful about modern medicine. She urges physicians to focus on taking care of people. MARY COPLEY, MD PHYSICIAN Lincoln Primary Care, Ebenezer Medical Outreach, Inc. Prichard, WV HEALTH AND WELLNESS