The family physician is afforded the great privilege of providing a safe place for others to be vulnerable: creating an open, honest space that leads to exceptional medical care tailored towards the patient. Alexa and her partner, Alex Fishburn Making snow angels in the Swiss Alps Congratulations on matching to McKay Dee! What led you to apply there? What are you most looking forward to about residency? Thank you so much for the congratulatory wishes! I applied to McKay-Dee for a myriad of reasons. Some of the biggest included its well-rounded, exceptional training, beautiful outdoor recreational opportunities, its proximity to my partner and family, and an overwhelming feeling of community and support from McKay-Dee’s staff, faculty, and residents. Why family medicine as a specialty? I love that, as a family physician, you wear all the hats. You are the communicator between your patient and specialists, the cheerleader, the advocate, the realist, the empathizer, the teacher, the researcher, and the interpreter of medical information. The family physician is afforded the great privilege of providing a safe place for others to be vulnerable: creating an open, honest space that leads to exceptional medical care tailored towards the patient. This, along with increased continuity of care with a variety of people and an assortment of cases makes for a thrilling, yet humbling adventure — one that I am so eager and grateful to continue. Now that you are nearing the end of your med school journey, what advice would you give those trying to get into med school or just starting out? I would encourage you to never give up on something you are truly passionate about. Just be you and do your thing — good things will come your way. Lastly, trust the process (easier said than done) — you will end up exactly where you are meant to be. Anything else you would like to add? I would like to say a very gracious thank you to some of my biggest supporters during medical school and throughout my life. I would most certainly not be where I am today without these wonderful humans: my dad (Tom Heinzen), my mom (Michelle Weidner), my partner (Alex Fishburn), my closest friends (Kim Clausen, Dr. Kyle Barkdull, Capt. Alyssa Brenner, and Sarah Wolff), and my most prominent mentors (Dr. Dale Woodbury and Dr. Nena Mason). 17 |
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==