Many individuals leave Chautauqua County only to come back and become productive members of their hometown community. There are a multitude of these types of situations, and the Community Foundation has worked to try and bring some of these stories to light. This is especially true through those individuals who may have received scholarship assistance from CRCF. An example of such an individual is Barbara Odell Mincarelli, MD. 

 

Barbara was a 1991 graduate of Clymer Central School. After graduating from high school, Barbara followed the path of many area students and went away to attend SUNY Binghamton, where she studied pre-med and received a degree in psychobiology in 1995. After SUNY Binghamton, Barbara took a couple years off from her education to focus on practical work experience. During these two years off, she worked at Clarke Labs in Jamestown, as a lab technician and phlebotomist for a year, and at Corry Memorial Hospital, also as a lab technician for a year. She also assisted at The Resource Center in Jamestown, as a recreation assistant and lifeguard.

 

When she graduated from high school, Barbara already knew she wanted to pursue a career in some discipline of medicine, and her undergraduate degree, combined with these work experiences, reinforced that view. Therefore, she attended medical school at SUNY Buffalo in 1997. Medical school was no small feat in terms of cost. During her time spent at SUNY Buffalo, Barbara enlisted the aid of Community Foundation scholarships to help her pay for her education and received nearly $10,000 over a four-year stretch. Barbara ultimately completed medical school and graduated cum laude from SUNY Buffalo with her medical degree in 2001. 

 

After graduating from medical school, Barbara went to Hershey, Pennsylvania, to begin her medical residency in 2001. Prior to leaving for Hershey, she was married to her husband, Mark Mincarelli. Mark, who is from Ashville, accompanied Barbara to Hershey, where the couple spent the next four years, while Barbara completed her residency. Barbara’s four-year residency (2001-2005) was completed at Penn State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. It was a combination of pediatrics and internal medicine. While she enjoyed the challenges of internal medicine, she truly loved her experiences of working with children through her residency rotations. This work with children revealed to Barbara the field of medicine she would choose to practice upon her residency’s completion.

 

With her residency behind her, Barbara, Mark, and their newborn son returned to Chautauqua County. Not long after their return, Barbara was hired by Jamestown Pediatrics, where she now serves as one of seven pediatricians with the group. It allows her to work with children, while also continuing to learn from a group of great doctors. Most importantly, it allows her to live in the community she adores. 

While Barbara and Mark returned to Chautauqua County partially for professional reasons, they largely just wanted to come home. They grew up in the area, share family in the area, and wanted to raise a family of their own in the area. They have begun to raise their own family, as they are proud parents of an 18-month old son, Samuel. Samuel is their pride and joy and has become the “icing on the cake” in both their lives.

 

Barbara Odell Mincarelli, M.D. is an example of an individual who was happy to bring her talents back to the Chautauqua region. Barbara has been a success in her professional and personal life, and Chautauqua County is fortunate to have individuals such as her return and contribute to the community. If you know of stories similar to Barbara’s, please contact the Community Foundation at 661-3390.