Family Connection 3

For Rikki, deciding whether to pursue this opportunity was very difficult. For one, already in her late 30’s, she was beginning later than most. Also, she was a single mother with four children, two, of which, were teenagers and the other two were in their pre-teens.

In spite of the challenges, Rikki enrolled in college and subsequently completed her undergraduate degree at California State University at Dominguez Hills in 1985, while concurrently attending the Physician Assistant Program at Charles R. Drew School of Medicine (MEDEX Program) in Los Angeles, completing the Physician Assistant program in 1983. As part of the program, Rikki received her clinical training at Martin Luther King/UCLA Hospital. The field of medicine she enjoyed most while training was orthopedics. In orthopedics, she has reset a lot of broken bones and observed a lot of interesting cases, such as gunshot and motorcycle accident victims. When asked what her most memorable and strangest case, she told a story of a man involved in a fight whose ankle was dislocated and totally twisted until his foot upside down and backwards, which she and her supervising resident had to reset. Rikki also shared that the most memorable time in all of her healthcare career has been the time she spent with her sister Joyce as co-owner of their own medical practices and businesses during a 17 year long period.

Subsequently, Rikki moved to Texas, entering into private practice and has continued in practice up until March 2008, except for a 3 year stint with the Texas Medical Board as a medical investigator.

This year, after many years of practice, Rikki is calling it quits. Though she will continue to be involved in medical seminars and conventions, she is officially leaving fulltime private practice. Now, she plans to travel and spend time with her family. Rikki also enjoys traveling tremendously, and has been to many places including Africa, Europe, and the Virgin Islands. She also intends to spend more time with her children and grandchildren. Three of her children live nearby in the Texas area. One remains in California. By the way, when asked whether she loved fashion or medicine more, Rikki replied that fashion is no longer her passion. She continues to enjoy medicine, particularly patient care giving and the challenge of diagnosing diseases, but likes to occasionally sit and draw and paint with her grandchildren. .

Children of Rosa Marie “Rikki” Doyle:

Clark Dewayne Mills – Lives in Round Rock, TX. Married to Freda; three children

Derrick Mills – Lives in Yucca Valley, CA. Married to Pamela; two children

ReShawn Castille – Lives in Round Rock, TX; one child

Crystal Castille - Lives in Houston, TX. Married to John; three children.

3/9/2008