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Customized approach
Robert Polite, D.O. (’99)

By Anita Martin
Photo by John Sattler

Originally set on becoming a surgeon, Robert Polite, D.O. (’99), changed course after his internship at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, when he discovered that the surgeon’s life was not suited to his personality.

“I went into my family practice residency a bit tentative, but it really grew on me,” Polite says. “I am a family physician at heart.”

Polite, who runs a private family practice in Columbus, enjoys the flexibility of the field—particularly that it allows him to assist with addiction care at two Columbus-area agencies, Maryhaven Drug and Rehabilitation Center and the Recovery Center in Lancaster, Ohio.

“I help people get off drugs and out of jail, and I save lives. Addiction is a secret that America has swept under the rug,” he says, noting that a lot of his patients are affluent professionals who abuse legal medicines.

Polite’s private practice is “fee for service,” meaning he does not accept private insurance. He instead offers a sliding scale flat fee for services, and patients then seek reimbursement from their insurance providers. This allows Polite to spend more time with his patients.

“I call it the Marcus Welby, M.D., approach, and people love it,” Polite said, referring to the popular 1970s television series about an affable family physician. “When you have the time to take care of people right, they appreciate it. Word gets around fast."

Jean Rettos, D.O. (’04)

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