Blogs

The mind-body connection is well established. We all know “real life” problems of our patients make them vulnerable to chronic disease and stress. As licensed clinicians, social workers are authorized to diagnose pathology per DSM-5 guidelines.

Each day I care for patients at Duke Family Medicine Center, in the hospital, or occasionally in a nursing home or a patient’s own home. While each individual’s story is unique, over time I have begun to see patterns in my patients. As a family physician, I can make a difference on a one-on-one level by helping to keep my patients healthy and address their concerns when ill, but I can also use my voice to speak on behalf of my patients to prevent the patterns I see time and time again. 

While scanning through the peer evaluations at my recent semi-annual review, I happened upon the following comment: “She appears to be Teflon to the daily frustrations of being a resident physician.” I was flattered and immediately inspired by this observation.

I knew residency would be difficult. The profound degree of new responsibility, steep learning curves, and long hours of caring for patients and charting are all challenges I anticipated. I was most surprised, however, by the unique challenge of training away from my specialty.

The growing number of children in foster homes is a national, state-wide and local problem. At nearly 11,000 kids, the foster care population in North Carolina alone is greater than the total number of residents in Camden, Jones, Graham, Hyde, or Tyrrell counties.

As a second-year resident and a pharmacist preparing to enter the work force, I am constantly trying to find resources to make sure I stay up-to-date on patient-care and pharmacotherapy. The best (and for some, worst) part about medicine is that it is always changing; there are always new innovative therapies coming out for our patients in order to optimize their care.

As family medicine residents, we have the unique opportunity to rotate and work with a wide array of specialists. This is akin to the clinical rotations that medical students go through, though the experience is a bit different given you take more onus for patient care.

It took interviewing in three specialties for me to realize that family medicine was the place for me. I think that ultimately, I would have found purpose and fulfillment in many specialties. However, I am thrilled that I found a home in family medicine.

Literally. For many community members this is all too real a hope as they close their eyes. A simple phrase of seemingly well-intentioned nighttime wishes takes on a whole new meaning when you have been a victim of a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs do not know the difference between a poor man and a rich one.

My journey to family medicine is a unique one. I have always been drawn to public and global health and amazing opportunities have allowed me to explore these fields in earnest. However, I was also drawn to the depth and potential inherent in the individual patient-physician relationship.