For National Doctors\u2019 Day, we are highlighting a few of MultiCare\u2019s many physicians and what drew them to the medical field.<\/p>\n
Why did you get into medicine?<\/strong><\/p>\n As a teenager, I was drawn to science and math and thought about engineering. But I determined that sitting behind a desk would not hold my interest. My wise father told me, \u201cWhen you choose a career pick something you will look forward to getting out of bed to go do on a Monday morning.\u201d I knew that would have to involve one-on-one interaction with people. Medicine was suddenly the natural choice.<\/p>\n What is the most rewarding part of being a doctor? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Having meaningful one-on-one interactions with patients or their families.<\/p>\n What advice would you give a new practitioner in my field?<\/strong><\/p>\n Never lose sight of the privilege it is to have a career where your primary job is to be kind and care for people. All the problems pale in comparison to that privilege.<\/p>\n Learn more about Mathew Rawlins, MD<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Why did you get into medicine?<\/strong><\/p>\n I am a surgeon because I want to make a positive, tangible difference in patients’ lives.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the most rewarding part of being a doctor?<\/strong><\/p>\n The most rewarding aspect of my surgical practice is working with an entire team of medical professionals \u2014 nurses, technicians, perfusionists, doctors, care managers and office staff \u2014 to help patients improve their health through every stage of surgical care.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one piece of advice you\u2019d give to a newly practicing doctor in your field?<\/strong><\/p>\n Take the time to spend with patients and their families to ensure they understand their medical condition and how you and the team plan to help make it better.<\/p>\n Learn more about Keith Havenstrite, MD<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Why did you get into medicine?<\/strong><\/p>\n I have always been fascinated by the human body and being a physician has allowed me to pursue my interest in science while still working in a serving profession.<\/p>\n What is the most rewarding part of being a doctor?<\/strong><\/p>\n The relationship with my patients has been the most rewarding part of being a physician. I see each patient encounter\u00a0as an opportunity to continually educate myself and my patients\u00a0in the changing field of medicine. Each patient has a unique story and I am honored to have them share\u00a0this with me.<\/p>\n What is one piece of advice you would give to a newly practicing doctor in your field?<\/strong><\/p>\n The most important piece of advice I would give is that to be a successful physician it is paramount to live a balanced life and provide\u00a0compassion and\u00a0empathy to your patients. I believe it is this kind of relationship that will allow them to completely\u00a0trust you\u00a0so that\u00a0you are able to\u00a0provide the best health\u00a0care for them.<\/p>\n Learn more about Nadine Gettel, MD<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Why did you get into medicine?<\/strong><\/p>\n I grew up in Montana and had some really great physician role models in my small home town. My father was a chemistry professor, and he helped me to develop a strong math and science foundation.\u00a0Even though I didn\u2019t have any doctors in my family, I felt that medicine would be a good profession for me in that I could use my science background but apply that to caring for people and their families longitudinally.<\/p>\n What is the most rewarding part of being a doctor?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I think I have the best job in the world as a family physician in Spokane.\u00a0Every day is different and I can honestly say that I am constantly challenged and never bored.\u00a0I work with great partners at Rockwood Quail Run. I have been with Rockwood for 15 years and have taken care of many of my patients for over a decade.\u00a0The BEST part of my job is getting to know individuals and families over time and both working to keep them healthy and helping them navigate medical challenges when they do arise.<\/p>\n What is one piece of advice you would give to a newly practicing doctor in your field?<\/strong><\/p>\n My advice to any new family physician would be to take time to LISTEN to each and every patient.\u00a0We often get behind, have mountains of paperwork to complete and phone calls to make, so sometimes that is challenging to do successfully. I find that when I get stressed out, I try to take a step back and remind myself that I am here for the patient and everything else can wait.\u00a0Secondly, I would advise any new physician to remember that self-care is important.\u00a0You can\u2019t take care of anyone else successfully unless you take care of yourself first. I think that personal\/professional life balance is so important and essential.<\/p>\n Learn more about Amy Anderson, MD<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Why did you get into medicine?<\/strong><\/p>\n There are very few fields of work that compare to the complexity of medicine. In some cases, a physician may need to embrace stoicism when others turn to emotion. While in others, the physician may need find empathy when others are unable. The care and well-being of the patient is always the highest priority and therefore the need to mix creativity, sensibility and overall goodwill together to accomplish the best outcome for the patient was extremely attractive to me.<\/p>\n What is the most rewarding part of being a doctor?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n While at lunch with my family one weekend, a young boy and his mother came up to our table. The woman expressed that they had come over to thank me for aiding in the care of her father, who had been in a serious accident years prior. She continued to explain that it was once a serious concern of theirs that her father may not be around for another holiday season with his grandchildren, yet he remained healthy and optimistic for many more holidays to come. It was a very short conversation, but to this day, that experience motivates me. Understanding that I had a part, no matter how small it may have been, in supplementing another person\u2019s life experience remains an invaluable occurrence in both my professional and personal life.<\/p>\n What is one piece of advice you would give to a newly practicing doctor in your field?<\/strong><\/p>\n Understand what your duty is. As rewarding, exciting and significant a doctor\u2019s life may be, it can be just as challenging, tedious and frustrating. When times are tough, physicians are looked to as the ones to remain vigilant and stay the course. The doctors I respected most during my\u00a0training were the ones who demonstrated accountability, rationality and mental fortitude when things may not be going as planned. Understanding and embracing one’s role as this figure is the first step in leading to a consistent and consequential career.<\/p>\nKeith Havenstrite, MD<\/h2>\n
Cardiothoracic surgery, Tacoma<\/h3>\n
Nadine Gettel, MD<\/h2>\n
Internal medicine, Auburn<\/h3>\n
Amy Anderson, MD<\/h2>\n
Women\u2019s health and family medicine, Spokane<\/h3>\n
Roy Semlacher, MD<\/h2>\n
Plastic surgery, Tacoma<\/h3>\n