Kathleen E. Sweeney, DO
Associate Director,
Director of Osteopathic Medicine Education
"You rarely have time for everything you want in life, so you need to
make choices. And hopefully your choices can come from a deep sense of who you
are."
Fred Rogers
Biography
I am very blessed. Family practice integrates my work and my value system. I have
always loved being a family physician. I was in private practice for two and a half years
in State College, Pa. Still in touch with my residency friends, Don Beckstead recruited me
back to teach at the family practice residency in 1990. I loved my patients in State
College, but always say this has been the perfect career choice for me. I have had the
satisfaction of beginning the Osteopathic Internship and seeing it become integrated into
our family practice residency. I have had the joy of teaching residents and watching them
grow into caring and successful physicians.
I have had the privilege to take care of my own patients and keep actively learning how
to be a better doctor every day. I have been able to teach patients through Altoona
hospital's Priority Care Wellness program and organize a Tar Wars program at our
residency. This is just a smattering of all the fun I have had at the residency over the
past ten years.
I grew up in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia. I have
two siblings. One sister is a clinical child psychologist with expertise in helping abused
children. She practices in Oklahoma. My other sister is a lawyer in Boardman, Ohio. My
parents are living in Ohio and winter in Florida. On my first rural family practice
rotation in Sullivan County, PA, I discovered I loved being outside the city with plenty
of opportunity to hike and cross country ski. Our clinic director took us on 6:00 AM Cross
country ski trips through the woods before clinic hours. I just couldn't face city sprawl
again. So I took a rotating internship at Grandview Hospital, an excellent osteopathic
community teaching hospital in Dayton, Ohio and then quickly returned to Pennsylvania away
from urban crowding.
I did my residency in Altoona and since 1985 I've been a Central Pennsylvanian.
My husband and I have been married for 14 years. He has lived in Blair County since he
was eight years old. Basically, he is a native! Our whole family enjoys having his mother
Martha nearby in Martinsburg. God has given me two loving sons. Patrick, my ten year
old, loves to play outside with his friends, build with Legos, read books, and pounds a
mean Indian Song on the piano. My son Michael is three years old and is just a loving
bundle of fun. Tom, Patrick, and I just enjoy him every day! I have four step- children .
Meri is married to Neil and recently gave us our first darling grandchild, George. Alex is
married to Jennifer and is a Lieutenant in the US Army stationed in Europe. Evan writes
computer software for the health care industry and is receiving a Masters in computer
software engineering this spring. Justin is at the University of Virginia working toward a
PH.D in biochemistry.
My family is my life and family practice is my vocation. I am very happy to say that
they both complement each other in a way that leaves me usually with a smile and a happy
heart!
Facts
Undergraduate LaSalle
College
Medical School Philadelphia College of
Osteopathic Medicine
Internship Grandview Hospital
Residency
Allegheny Family Physicians
Board Certification American Board of Family Practice
Years at AFP Faculty
since 1990
Previous experience
Private Practice with two other family physicians in State College, PA for three
years.
Areas of responsibility at the residency
Gynecology
Colposcopy
Conference schedule
Community medicine
Areas of interest
Gynecology
Pediatrics
Wellness Education
Patient Education
After hours interests
Exercise walking, teaching Sunday School, reading, cross country skiing, piano,
enjoying sunshine, flowers and little children.
You may contact Dr. Sweeney at 814-889-2020 or
ksweeney(at)altoonafp.org.
