A special type of ‘family medicine’

Joe Stefko III, left, and his children Joe IV and Jordan share a special bond as Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine graduates, continuing a legacy of compassionate care and medical excellence. (Photo by Erin Pence)

The moment Joe Stefko IV stepped onto the stage at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine graduation ceremony in May, he was continuing more than just his own journey — he was extending a family legacy.

Waiting to hood him was his father, Joe Stefko III, a 1989 graduate and orthopedic surgeon in Youngstown. In the audience was his sister Jordan Stefko, a 2020 Boonshoft School of Medicine graduate who is completing a clinical fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesiology and critical care medicine at Columbia University’s New York Presbyterian Hospital.

“That was special to me, especially because he graduated from the same school,” Joe IV said.

Together, the Stefkos represent three generations of commitment to medicine — and to Wright State’s Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Joe Stefko III never pushed his children to follow in his footsteps.

“Throughout their childhood years they were given the opportunity to choose their careers,” he said.

Jordan Stefko remembers tagging along with her father on weekend hospital rounds as a child. The experience stuck with her.

“I thought that was a really neat experience, seeing him talking with patients and seeing at an early age what he did with his career in medicine,” she said.

Although Jordan considered attending law school, she eventually gravitated toward science and medicine.

“I love working with people,” she said. “This is a good career for me to make an impact on people’s lives and do something hands-on as well.”

After earning a biology degree from Wake Forest University, she chose to return to Ohio for medical school, drawn by the close-knit feel of the Boonshoft School of Medicine community.

“Wright State has a great reputation for training doctors who are good at what they do but are also really great people,” she said.

Her medical education emphasized the importance of connecting with patients.

“The Boonshoft School of Medicine emphasized the importance of compassionate care and humanism in medicine,” she said. “It made me the doctor I am today.”

As a medical student, Jordan appreciated the small classes and personal attention the Boonshoft School of Medicine offered. She recalled struggling during her first course but being motivated by the support she received.

“I ended up reaching out to faculty, and they were helpful in getting me back on track. I would not be where I am today without the support I received at Boonshoft,” she said.

A career in medicine was always on Joe Stefko IV’s mind.

“Obviously, having a family in medicine was a big factor, but I feel it’s a natural fit,” he said.

He studied neuroscience at The Ohio State University before enrolling at the Boonshoft School of Medicine, drawn by both its reputation and his family’s experiences.

“Having a father and older sister who went to med school at Wright State, I knew what I was getting,” he said. “They both had good things to say about it. I knew the school’s reputation. It was cool to do my medical training in the same place they did.”

Throughout medical school, Joe relied on advice from his sister.

“When things come up with his education or questions regarding his med school experience, he’d reach out to me,” Jordan said. “My relationship with Joe has gotten a lot closer. It’s nice to have that shared experience.”

Joe IV channeled his family members’ experiences as well into his field of study.

“They both work with radiologists in their respective fields,” he said. “That helped me to see how radiologists, although working behind the scenes, have a strong impact on other areas of medicine.”

He was drawn to radiology because it sits at the intersection of technology and patient care.

“I get excited about new technologies like AI and how these things shape patient care and clinical outcomes,” Joe said. “You get to help other doctors to clarify a diagnosis.”

Joe will begin a radiology residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh after a transitional year at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

After Jordan completes her fellowship in 2026, she will seek a position in anesthesiology ICU and critical care.

“I eventually want to come back to Ohio,” she said. “My family wishes I was closer to home.”

Joe Stefko III said he takes great pride in both Jordan and Joe IV — not only for what they’ve accomplished but for choosing to follow in his footsteps at the Boonshoft School of Medicine.

“As a parent, I couldn’t be more proud,” he said. “I am very happy with the decisions they made, specifically with medical school.”