Say Hello to Dr. Penhollow!
We are excited for you to meet Tammy Penhollow, DO, the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) Member Spotlight for the month of October. Dr. Penhollow is an experienced pain management and regenerative medicine specialist at Precision Regenerative Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona.
In her interview for ArMA's Member Spotlight, Dr. Penhollow shares fascinating details about her journey with medicine; remembering the many turns her career path has taken, Dr. Penhollow highlights the importance of resiliency and expecting the unexpected in the practice of medicine. Outside of medicine, Dr. Penhollow has a passion for adventure and hiking so strong that it will make you want to dust off your boots and hit the nearest trail.
You can read about Dr. Penhollow’s journey with medicine in the interview below! 👇
What inspires you?
Being in nature and in foreign countries immersed in the culture is what feeds and inspires me. I consider traveling a necessity in my journey through life, as it allows such different points of view from history to the present, and I thrive on learning through my eyes, ears, and taste buds. Getting out in a foreign country and fitting in where the locals go “off the beaten path” of touristy spots is the best.
What has been the most memorable event in your career?
Being active-duty US Navy for 12 years, starting right out of my internship and through residency and beyond, the world was literally my learning platform. I had many opportunities as a general medical officer (primary care), from deployment in a post-war zone to a three-year instructor billet teaching Independent Duty Corpsmen (Navy version of an unlicensed PA) in physical and medical diagnosis and treatment. I was immensely fortunate as an anesthesiologist to have four years of back-to-back assignments overseas at naval hospitals in Okinawa, Japan, and in Rota, Spain, where I had both Asia and Europe as my homes away from home.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
What spare time? 😊 I love to travel, desert garden, and am a home chef. Hiking in Sedona for a long weekend is another special treat that “fills the tank” with gratitude and the awe of nature.
What place would you most like to visit?
Such a tough question as I am an ardent traveler and love to experience life through other cultures. I typically have at least a top 10 places on the “near future” list, which changes as time progresses and new life experiences occur. Right now, the islands of Sardinia and Sicily are on the shortlist.
What is one message you would give to your 18-year-old self?
There is not one right path. In fact, the one you’ll be taken on may be the most circuitous with entirely unexpected and seemingly paradoxical twists, but it is the one you are meant to be on... so do not fight it. Expect the unexpected and know you’re in the right place for you at that time in your life.
What is the one accomplishment you’re most proud of?
Having the courage to listen to my heart, “quit” traditional pain management, and pivot into a new lifestyle and regenerative medicine in a micro-practice. It’s not as easy as being an employed physician with benefits, but entrepreneurship is one of the most challenging yet rewarding paths I’ve chosen. I’m truly living my purpose and helping practice members change their lives to become the best versions of themselves.
Why is ArMA important to you and your colleagues?
ArMA represents a large, impactful voice for the concerns of the collective physician community. Though one person can (and often does) have a profound contribution to the world at large, when we collaborate with our colleagues, our voices and experiences are much greater than the sum of our parts. Especially when nearly every specialty is facing significant challenges from issues like scope of practice, creep, and diminishing reimbursements, we gain strength in numbers by having an ArMA voice and audience with our elected officials, cooperative partnerships with preferred resources, and specific peer groups such as the Private Practice Physicians Section (PPPS).
