Matei Panturu, DO, a psychiatry resident, has had a long-standing connection to JPS Health Network since childhood. His mother was a medical surgical nurse on Tower 5 for 12 years. Dr. Panturu remembers coming with his dad to pick her up from work and sometimes grabbing McDonald's.
Dr. Panturu's parents immigrated to the United States on educational visas, and their sacrifices have shaped the person he is today.
"My parents moved to the U.S. from Romania to give my brother and me better educational and career opportunities. Although they love Romania, they made a big decision to move to a place where they had no family or community ties to make a better life. Remembering their sacrifice inspires me to make the most of my opportunities," Dr. Panturu said.
"It was the best feeling to match at JPS because it was my first choice, and I wanted to get a chance to serve the same patient population as my mom.I am grateful that JPS is a part of our community, and I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to train here."
Dr. Panturu's mother decided to pursue a career in nursing. After graduating from nursing school, she only wanted to work at JPS, and she's had nothing but good things to say about her experience. So that, combined with the opportunity for exceptional education, influenced his decision to pursue his residency at JPS.
"I chose JPS because of various factors: my family, partner, and good friends are in the area, and my mom being at JPS for so long made my decision clear," Dr. Panturu said. “She shared the culture with me and described it as a great workplace. Education was also a deciding factor. The patient population you see here and the volume of patients you get in this program are hard to match, especially for psychiatry. JPS gets a lot of complicated cases with unique medical conditions. So, it's a really good place to train."
Dr. Panturu earned his bachelor's degree in Chemistry from University of Texas at Austin. Afterward, he attended the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth, where he completed most of his rotations at JPS. During these rotations, he discovered his passion for psychiatry and is excited to see where his journey at JPS takes him.
"It was the best feeling to match at JPS because it was my first choice, and I wanted to get a chance to serve the same patient population as my mom," Dr. Panturu said. "I am grateful that JPS is a part of our community, and I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to train here."