A Midwestern Start with Mountain Dreams
Hi, my name is Kate! I’m a fourth-year medical student at Rocky Vista University in St. George. I grew up just outside of Springfield, Illinois, and went to college in Michigan. Most recently, I moved to Utah for medical school, where I met my husband, Nick, who’s also in family medicine. Living in the Mountain West has been a long-time dream, and we love embracing everything the area has to offer. From biking and skiing to canyoneering, there’s always a new adventure waiting.
Discovering a Passion for Medicine
I always enjoyed math and science in high school, but I never had a clear idea of what career I wanted to pursue. Since no one in my family worked in healthcare, I wasn’t really exposed to the field until I started volunteering at our local hospital during college. That experience opened my eyes to the many different careers within healthcare. Towards the end of college, I was exploring going to pharmacy school, though I ultimately chose not to pursue that path. It wasn’t until a couple of years after graduating that I started considering medical school instead. Thankfully, my pre-med advisors from college were still willing to help me through the application process, even years later, for which I’m so grateful.
Finding My Footing in Science and Service
For my undergrad, I went to Hillsdale College in Michigan. When I started college, I had no idea what I wanted to do! I initially thought I’d major in math and economics, but after my freshman year, I realized how much I missed science. I took a few summer classes to catch up and quickly decided to study biochemistry. Shortly after, an upperclassman mentor in my major encouraged me to start volunteering at our local hospital, which became my first real exposure to healthcare. I loved it and eventually became the director of the hospital’s student volunteer program. After college, I wasn’t sure what specific path I wanted to pursue, so I followed my dream to live out West and spent a couple of years living in the Sierra Nevada. During that time, my dad was unexpectedly diagnosed with lung cancer. Being with him through his illness ultimately inspired me to apply to medical school. All the groundwork I had done in college — my coursework, volunteer work and leadership experiences — made that decision possible. I was drawn to RVU because I wanted to stay in the West and was inspired by the osteopathic philosophy of medicine.
Why Family Medicine
What draws me most to family medicine is the opportunity to care for the whole person and build long-term relationships with patients and families. I love that the specialty allows for continuity — seeing patients through all stages of life, from preventive care to managing chronic conditions. Going into medical school, I knew I wanted to pursue primary care in some form, and over the course of my third-year clerkships, I realized that I especially love how family medicine lets you do a little bit of everything while building long-lasting, meaningful relationships with patients.
Words of Encouragement for Future Physicians
It’s never too late! If medicine is something you genuinely want to do, go for it. I was apprehensive about starting medical school several years after graduating from college, especially knowing that the process from medical school through residency can take 7+ years. But a mentor once told me that time will pass no matter what, so don’t let the length of the journey hold you back. The process can feel long at times, but staying grounded in your values and making time to enjoy each stage along the way can make the journey not only manageable but genuinely rewarding.
