Dr. JEFF HARRIS

My biography starts with my great grandfather, Percy Harris M.D., lived and practiced in Scottsville, Virginia.  He developed a good reputation as a caring doctor for his town.  He used to take his horse and buggy to make house calls, and sometimes he would be so tired after delivering a baby, he would lie down in the back of the buggy and the horse would take him home as he slept. One time, he bought a horse from the mailman, and wherever he went the horse would stop at every mailbox without fail.

Percy Harris M.D. was mentioned on the T.V. show "The Walton's" several times.  He was also the mayor of Scottsville for 10 years.  The Scottsville Museum has a display in honor of Dr. Percy Harris for the good medical care and services he provided to his community for many years.

My family wanted to have another doctor in the family after my grandfather died.  My father approached me in my late teens and asked if I ever thought about being a doctor.  At that moment I knew that I wanted to be a doctor that didn't treat people with drugs or surgery.  My Dad laughed happily and said I would be a good doctor anyway.  I said, "I'm serious, I don't want to treat people with drugs or surgery".  I had never heard of such a doctor, and neither had anyone else that I knew.  During my pre-med courses at college, I talked with many people about the type of doctor I wanted to be; they were supportive but didn't know what I was talking about.

One day while I was walking across campus, a friend called to me.  She handed me a paper with the name "John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine" written on it.  I felt a flash like lightening and shouted, "That's it, I'm going to be a Naturopathic doctor!"  I'm grateful to her everyday for that note.

I finished my Biology/ Pre-med, interviewed at John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine and was accepted.  Also, I joined the U.S. Army as a medic which helped pay the way to fulfill my dream.

I went to school with a great group of people at John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine.  We worked hard, studied hard, and supported each other to get through the program and graduate.  I'm proud of my class, as they have truly contributed to the advancement of Naturopathic medicine, and still do. The year we graduated the college name changed to Bastyr University.