DOVER, Del., July 16, 2020 -- It didn't take long for Jazmyne Hefflefinger to make her mark at Delaware State University.
As a starting freshman on the women's bowling team, the Harrisburg, Pa., native led the Hornets to their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship and NCAA Tournament berth that ended in a Final Four appearance during the 2008-09 season. An All-MEAC First Team selection, she also achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average in her first year of college.
Flash forward to 2020, and Dr. Jazmyne Hefflefinger, D.O. is in the second year of a five-year residency program in radiology at Hemet Global Medical Center, a community based hospital near San Diego, Calif., where she's learning under top professionals in inpatient, outpatient and emergency imaging, as well as interventional, fluoroscopic and nuclear medicine procedures.
The fact that Hefflefinger is in a critical position as a health care professional in a state that's among the hardest hit during a worldwide pandemic adds an extra measure of pressure and responsibility.
"As with most health care facilities across the country, we have endured many challenging days dealing with COVID-19, along with the usual workload," Hefflefinger said.
"I'm grateful for my upbringing, along with lessons from Delaware State, medical school and other career experiences that I draw on to help deal with my current responsibilities. Being a student-athlete also helped me to sharpen my leadership and time management skills, and how to best operate within a team framework."
She added, "My first bowling coach at DSU (Kim Kearney) was an amazing teacher and motivator who frequently reminded us to discipline ourselves, so no one else has to."
Hefflefinger maintained her perfect GPA throughout her Delaware State career, and graduated with a degree in Movement Science in May 2012.
Athletically, she helped lead the Hornets to their second straight MEAC bowling championship and NCAA Tournament berth as a sophomore in 2010, and was named to the All-MEAC Second Team during her junior and senior seasons.
Also in 2012, Hefflefinger became the second Delaware State representative as MEAC Woman of the Year. The award, selected annually by MEAC senior woman administrators, celebrates the achievements of female senior student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
Her credentials were impressive enough to earn an invitation to Indianapolis, Ind., as a finalist for the 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
"It was quite an honor to be considered for the national award and share a stage with so many outstanding women throughout the country," Hefflefinger said. "I'll be forever grateful to Delaware State and the MEAC for promoting and supporting me throughout the process."
Hefflefinger began her professional career as an community life director/activity manager for a retirement community near Pittsburgh, Pa.
In 2015, she enrolled in medical school at Virginia Tech's Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Va., where she assisted with the medical staffs treating the Hokies' sports teams.
Hefflefinger graduated from the school with a 3.9 GPA in 2019. She's on course to complete her residency in 2024.
As for future plans and goals, Dr. Hefflefinger is keeping her eyes on the present, while committing only to learning as much as she can and giving back to the field of medicine.