08/13/2025
During Thanksgiving break of her senior year in college, Dr. Jeanne Doherty came down with what she thought was the flu.
“When I went back to school, I was really fatigued,” says Dr. Doherty, Assistant Medical Director at Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. “Everything seemed off, my balance and coordination. I couldn’t concentrate.”
Dr. Doherty soon was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune, neuromuscular disorder that is usually followed by full recovery. But when she didn’t get better, the diagnosis was changed to CIPD, the chronic form of the disease.
She had to put medical school off for a year, spent the weekends of medical school getting medication infusions in the hospital, and had moments during the rigors of clinical rotation when she broke down.
“Right off the bat, I was on surgery rotation and had to be there at 2 AM,” she says. “Man, it was a journey. I’d find a private space and ball my eyes out. I’d call my mom, my dad and my husband and say, ‘I can’t do this one more second. I just can’t do it.’ And they carried me along.”
Several years ago, when walking became more difficult, Dr. Doherty made the decision to start using a power scooter and adaptive car to get around. She continues to get medical infusions on a regular basis.
But what she’ll tell you is anything but a tale of woe.
For one thing, her own disability propelled her to specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and she’s deeply enamored of its mission.
“The holistic approach of physical medicine and rehabilitation allows us to address not only the physical aspects of a person’s condition but also the emotional, social and vocational needs of patients which to me is critical for healing in a complete way,” says Doherty, who’s been at Jefferson Moss Magee for 25 years.
“It is most rewarding when I see our rehabilitation teams come together to work through what initially seems like an insurmountable hurdle or barrier and time and time again, work through to a resolution for a patient and their family that allows a patient to return home against all odds.”
And Dr. Doherty believes that her own disability makes her more relatable to patients.
“All of this experience and knowledge for me, it’s been a tremendous blessing in caring for my patients.” Dr. Doherty says. “In a lot of instances, I’m able to make a strong connection with patients. Everyone’s story is different but there are some commonalities.
“They see someone coming in using a scooter, then they hear that I’m assistant medical director, I’m a sports fan, I travel, I paint, I do adaptive bicycling, they’re like, ok!”
Dr. Doherty began at Jefferson Moss Magee as a clinician and soon educated herself about insurance coverage, documentation regulations and policies that determine the extent of care a patient can receive. She uses that knowledge and her clinical expertise to ensure that patients receive the treatment “that allows them to maximize their independence and achieve the best quality of life despite their injury or illness.” She also continues to treat outpatients, some of whom have been in her care for decades.
During college, Dr. Doherty played softball the first few years at St. Joseph’s University and was also a runner. But rather than lament the loss, she celebrates her transition to becoming a big fan. “Not being able to participate in a physical activity that you love so much can be pretty devastating, but there is hope. You can find joy in sports again just in a different way,” she says.
Dr. Doherty attributes her optimism and fortitude to the support she had from three women who were her role models, as well as her husband and brother.
“My grandmother, mother and aunt were strong, resilient, tenacious, intelligent, incredibly hard-working women,” she says. “And they did everything with a kind and caring heart.
“I feel very privileged; they were gifts to me.”
They have all passed on. But Dr. Doherty’s work family inspires her, too.
“The tireless dedication and teamwork of the Jefferson Moss Magee staff to provide the best physical, emotional and spiritual care for our patients and their families motivates me every day to be the best physician I can be,” she says.
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