Khyllian Lowry, MS4, is a current TIP student at the Mid Michigan Medical Center –Gratiot (Alma).
by Khyllian Lowry, MS4
I have wanted to be a doctor, to help people like me and my family, for as long as I can remember. When my mom was pregnant with my sister, I wanted to be a doctor that delivered babies. When I was a child, I wanted to be a doctor that took care of kids. When I had to find a new doctor because I was too old for pediatrics, I wanted to be able to take care of many people no matter their age or medical concerns. I have decided that I want to be able to do it all.
My experience in family medicine clinics over the past year has illustrated to me that the family physician is the access point to the rest of the health care system. One example that comes to mind is a patient who came in wondering if we could do something for the swelling in his legs and feet so he could keep dancing at the weekly square dance. After we took his history, we wanted him to go see a specialist to get care for his heart. He was less than pleased with our suggestion, but through explaining to him how his heart works and why we were worried, we were able to convince him to see the local cardiologist. We also got to refill his reflux medication and could assure him we would still be providing the main portion of his care and we just wanted a little extra help in keeping him in good shape, so he could continue dancing. Looking at the patient as a person with a life and interests who have medical conditions is a special privilege that physicians who develop a long relationship with patients get to enjoy.
I recall one patient who came for follow up after discharge from a hospital stay explaining that she was so happy to be able to be back to her farm with her pigs, goats, and chickens, but that she did not understand what all her inhalers were for. We had the opportunity to explain the utility of each of her inhalers and her nebulizer. She was able to express that the nebulizer was not very convenient for her with her farm chores and work, and we could then give her another pocket-sized inhaler to use instead. The patient left with a better understanding of her
medications, and they were all in a form that could make the most difference for her. I enjoyed establishing a trusting supportive relationship reinforced by maintaining continuity of care and the open sharing of knowledge, thoughts, opinions and needs.
TIP has been an attractive program for me because I have felt drawn to family medicine. I have already been able to interact a few times with the same patients while on my clerkships in the rural community to which I am assigned for my rural medicine certificate program. I have been able to see them for sick visits, for yearly physicals and for advanced care planning. Being allowed to develop a patient panel in my fourth year through TIP in these same communities will be very fulfilling. These communities also offer a rural training track during residency, which will ultimately allow me to provide care to a population similar to the one I grew up in. Additionally, TIP will allow me to continue to expand on professional relationships that the rural medicine certificate has introduced me to and to participate in making a meaningful change for people of the community outside of the confines of the doctor’s office as well.
Being a family physician will allow me to help everyone I have ever wanted to as I continue to grow into my dream of becoming a physician and having a relationship with the community will enhance my ability to care for my patients. I will not have to tell a child they have aged out of my care or tell a pregnant woman that I cannot help her through her pregnancy. Instead, I can tell them I will care for mom and baby, once they are born, as well as dad and grandparents. This will provide me an opportunity to educate and provide contacts and resources for a wide range of people. TIP will help me achieve and expand upon my dream to help my patients and make a positive difference in people’s lives.
