Dr. Reuben Jacobson, D.O., has spent the past few weeks at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital-Westborough, shadowing Dr. Emilia Semenov and gaining valuable experience as a doctor in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Dr. Jacobson began his journey toward a career in rehabilitation medicine at Quinnipiac University, where he completed his undergraduate studies. He went on to earn his medical degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine this past May.
He is now completing his residency at MetroWest Medical Center and he chose Whittier as one of his clinical rotations where he had the opportunity to learn from our experienced rehabilitation team and receive firsthand insight into the care we provide.
Why Whittier?
When we first spoke with Reuben while getting his credentials in order to begin his clinical rotation at Whittier, we asked him a simple question: “Why Whittier?” His answer was immediate and personal—his grandfather had been a patient here.
He described his grandfather as a true outdoorsman—a lineman by profession and an ox farmer in his spare time—someone accustomed to an active, independent life. After suffering a stroke in 2016, his grandfather was suddenly unable to live the life he had known. With the dedication and support of Whittier’s physicians, nurses, and rehabilitation team, his grandfather made significant progress, regained his independence, and returned to the activities he enjoyed most.
Reuben shared how impressed he was by the way the entire rehabilitation team at Whittier worked together to help his grandfather regain his independence.
A profound impact, and a realization.
Watching his grandfather navigate the challenges and frustrations that followed his stroke had a profound impact on Reuben. He saw firsthand how much of his grandfather’s independence and sense of normalcy had been taken away—and how meaningful rehabilitation was in helping him regain it. That experience helped Reuben realize that he wanted to become a physician specializing in rehabilitation medicine.
That experience also ultimately played a meaningful role in his decision to gain experience at Whittier. For him, Whittier is more than a place to complete a clinical rotation—it is a place that made a difference in his family’s life, and one he was eager to experience from a new perspective.
Reuben said that he hopes to help patients find their sense of normalcy again while easing some of the fear and uncertainty that can come with a life-changing injury or illness. During his time at Whittier, he has been especially impressed by the willingness of the physicians to teach and share their knowledge with the next generation of rehabilitation professionals.
He describes the physicians, nurses, and rehabilitation teams at Whittier as caring, compassionate humanitarians—qualities that closely reflect the kind of rehabilitation physician he hopes to become after his residency is over.
We are proud to have inspired Reuben’s calling, and we are also grateful to have had Reuben spend his clinical rotation with us at Whittier. We wish him continued success as he begins his career as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, and hope to see him back at Whittier in the years to come!
