Gumption and Goodwill
Dr. Georgenna Riley blazed her own trail. Now she helps others do the same through an endowed minority scholarship.

By Susie Shutts

Georgenna Riley, D.O., with LaQuita Jones, OMS I

Riley wasn’t initially drawn to analytical field of radiology, but after exploring the specialty in one of her residency rounds at Ruby Memorial Hospital in West Virginia, she was hooked. The field’s variety and constant innovations resonated with her personality.

Riley’s ability to adapt to change and overcome adversity helped her a few years ago, when her mother died of ovarian cancer. Riley channeled her grief into purpose. “It made me more proactive with encouraging preventive measures,” Riley said. Her loss prompted an interest in the relationship among diet, exercise and disease. She constantly tracks research on the subject, sharing information with patients along the way.

The experience also deepened her commitment to her family. Riley grew up one of ten children, including three—yes, three—sets of twins. Riley shares the values driving her twin sister, Georgetta, who retired last year after working 28 years as a warden at the Federal Medical Center, a Lexington, Ky., a federal prison specializing in psychiatric care. “We both work with people to help them better their lives,” Riley says.

To this end, Riley recently endowed the Georgenna Riley, D.O. (’95), Osteopathic Minority Medical Scholarship, a new OU-COM scholarship for underrepresented minority students who reflect leadership skills and/or research activities. Riley hopes the scholarship will inspire others to pay forward to future generations. She describes recipients as students “who got into medicine because they really want to help people.” continue

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