USA Health expands hospitalist team with the addition of Frederick J. Rossi, D.O. 

By Michelle Ryan
mryan@health.southalabama.edu

For Frederick J. Rossi III, D.O., joining USA Health, the academic health system of the University of South Alabama, is an extension of something he already enjoys – teaching.  

As a result, one of USA Health’s newest hospitalists and an assistant professor of internal medicine at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine said making the choice was easy. 

“Passing on knowledge and tips has always been something I’ve enjoyed,” he said. “I tutored in college and medical school, delivered health education lectures to communities and other training organizations while I was a paramedic/firefighter, and enjoyed working with medical students as a resident. Working in an academic health system was a no-brainer.” 

Rossi, who will provide care for patients at University Hospital and Children’s & Women’s Hospital, attended medical school at the William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and completed his combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency training at USA Health. 

Continuing his work with residents in a teaching setting will ensure that he also will keep learning. 

“Working with people who ask you questions all day challenges you to stay up to date on current practices, and in return, that makes you a better physician for your patients,” he said. 

When Rossi graduated with his bachelor’s degree in biology from Spring Hill College, he said he knew he wanted to work in the medical field, but he wasn’t sure where.  

“A friend of mine recommended that I become a paramedic and work at a fire department until I figured that out,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoyed that job and the skills it taught me, and I believe it gives me a somewhat unique perspective as a physician.” 

After Rossi earned his paramedic associate degree at Bossier Parish Community College in Shreveport, he put his training as a first responder to use at Bossier Parish Emergency Medical Services and Velocity Care Urgent Treatment Center in Louisiana.  

His stints as a paramedic led him to medical school, where he said he found that he enjoyed the internal medicine and pediatrics rotations the most, and he chose to pursue the combined internal medicine and pediatrics training.  

“I have found that med-peds physicians, due to their dual-residency training in two different, yet similar fields, typically look at problems and their solutions a little differently because the training blends different aspects of both,” he said. “This unique look at problems and their solutions is what drew me to my field.”  

During medical school and residency, Rossi volunteered his time in the community at various health fairs, Rapahope, a camp for children with cancer, the Food Pantry of Hattiesburg and ARC of Mobile, which supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

“The value of volunteering is that it allows you to see life through others' perspectives and teaches you that everyone is different and has unique life problems and experiences,” he said. “By experiencing some of those individuals’ hardships, it helps you strive to find solutions that work for that individual person.”