Catalyst for a career

Like any successful chemical reaction, a catalyst was required for the interest Dr. Thomas Dopson (78C) had in science to blossom into a career in medicine. In his case, that catalyst was a girl. 

As a youngster, Tommy always had a strong interest in science, but it was only after he started dating the woman who would become his wife, Dr. Kelley Bethel Dopson, that he knew his calling was in medicine.

"Kelley was fascinated with medicine, and that definitely sparked my interest," he stated.

That spark burned throughout Tommy’s undergraduate years as a chemistry major at Berry, and after graduation, he continued his education at the Medical College of Georgia. Today, he is a partner and orthopedic surgeon at Resurgens Orthopaedics Atlanta, the largest orthopedic group in the country. In that role, his general responsibilities are to diagnose, treat, prevent and rehabilitate injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. More specifically, Tommy specializes in reconstructive surgery of the adult spine, hip and knee.

"I love what I do and would do it all over again," he exclaimed. "I thoroughly enjoy it."

Tommy’s interest in orthopedic medicine developed during his residency at Georgia Baptist Medical Center, now Atlanta Medical Center. However, it was his time at Berry that prepared him for the rigors of medical school.

"In all my classes, including the ones I took in med school, physics at Berry was the hardest," Tommy explained. "Dr. Malcolm McDonald (associate professor emeritus of physics) wouldn’t let me slack off, especially my senior year."

In addition to the strong academic preparation he received, Berry afforded Tommy other opportunities that otherwise might not have been available to him. All three years he was at Berry, Tommy spent his summers as a researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. He also learned valuable leadership lessons as a resident assistant. Thanks to generous alumni, Tommy was able to attend Berry on an academic scholarship. Now a member of the Berry College Board of Visitors, he encourages friends and former classmates to support Berry.

"I want to give other people the same opportunities I had," he said.

— By Leigh Harris (09c)
Public Relations & Marketing Assistant