TRI-LAKES AREA — Dr. Michael Carozza has only been back in his former college town of Arkadelphia since the fall of 2009, but he returned with a defined purpose.
“I wanted to own my own medical practice in a place where I felt I could make a difference,” Carozza said.
He opened Compassion Women’s Clinic on Oct. 5, offering obstetric and gynecologic services to help manage a woman’s health.
“We only want what is the absolute best for our patients,” he said.
Carozza, 34, and his family relocated to Arkadelphia after he was stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for three years While in the Air Force, Carozza was medical director of the women’s health clinic and oversaw the second-largest women’s health service in the Air Force.
Serving his country was “one of those bucket list things I just had to do in order to reach what I felt like was fulfillment,” he said. Carozza went into the service after completing his residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
While attending Ouachita Baptist Uni
versity, Carozza didn’t think he was going
to be a physician.
“I thought I was going to be an engineer
or do something with aerospace. I wanted
to be a part of NASA,” he said.
But chance conversations with different
people made him realize that many of them
were struggling because of medical reasons.
After finishing at OBU in 1998, he went to
medical school at UAMS and graduated in
2002. He chose obstetrics and gynecology
as his specialty because it is a very emo
tional field.
“It’s an overwhelming experience to be
the first person to hold a child and become
intimately involved in a family’s life,” he said.
Carozza is also an author. His book,
Facing the Father: 180 Degrees to God, was
published in 2008. It started out with him
journaling as a way to maintain spiritual
focus through his residency. He plans to
work on another book, which will be a 40-
week devotional to guide women through
the 40 weeks of pregnancy.
His goals include growing the clinic’s
influence in the community, maintaining
strong relationships with his wife and three
daughters, and giving his time and resources
to the benefit of others.
“Hopefully, I can help somebody with
what I have learned” he said.
Family: Melissa, 34; Mallorie, 6;
Cassie, 4; Emorie, 2 Birthplace: Little Rock
Biggest influence: A random
individual came up to me one
day while I was in college and
said,“You are going to be a very
important Christian influence some day.” I think about that statement almost every day.
Favorite TV show: The Cosby
Show - I always thought it was
interesting that an obstetrician saw patients in his basement.
One thing not many people
know about you: I very much
enjoy writing and have recently published a devotional book.
One thing you learned in
kindergarten that you have
carried on throughout your life: Be nice to girls.
Tri-Lakes, Pages 159 on 01/31/2010