A native Missourian, you could say Dr. Bukstein is a natural-born doctor, too. “I have wanted to be a physician since grade school due to time spent with a physician friend of the family. My high school yearbook said under my picture that my ambition was to become a surgeon.” 

He says a common misconception is that, ‘everything can be fixed with surgery.’ When surgery is required, Dr. Bukstein takes great joy in improving the quality of his patients’ lives. “It is always special for me to see a former patient, on whom I had the privilege to operate many decades ago, and see that they are doing well. I like to get to know my patients, know what motivates them, and hence what makes them want to get well.”

Dr. Bukstein began his practice in Hannibal in 1975, and lives the Blessing Mission of improving the health of the community in his personal life, too. “I am a Trustee in the Riedel Foundation, which distributes funds to local not for profit organizations. It has been a wonderful experience in philanthropy. This lead my wife and me to establish a philanthropic fund at the University of Missouri to support a chair in cancer research.”

While busy as a physician leader and community leader, this licensed pilot will find time for his hobby. “Flying gives one a sense of ultimate freedom,” he said.