We continue our TidalHealth series “Grow With Us” by stopping in for a March chat with Kristin Smith, a Medical Partners Medical Assistant (for now) at our TidalHealth Primary Care office in Laurel, Del.
The “for now” part of the above introduction is because Kristin has been accepted to medical school, which couldn’t make her mentor, Dr. Joseph Kim, any happier or prouder.
Monthly, we’ll introduce you to team members, like Kristin who began their career at TidalHealth and advanced in the health system and beyond, and/or who have taken their careers to the next level with significant certifications and achievements.
We’re always looking for people to profile. Send your thoughts and ideas to [email protected].
Here’s Kristin’s story, the legacy of healthcare within her family, and what she plans to do in the future with all that skill and knowledge.
Thanks, Kristin, for agreeing to be a part of this series. Let’s start with the basics…where you grew up, where you went to school, your life and family now.
Of course, thank you so much for having me! I grew up in Seaford, Del. attending Sussex Technical High School and going on to get my bachelor's in Biological Sciences, Pre-Medical emphasis, at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. I moved back to Delaware after spending a gap year in Washington D.C. and have been here ever since.
Currently I spend my time working as a medical assistant at TidalHealth Primary Care in Laurel, training my pup, Finnegan, hiking, climbing, running, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family.
What led you to the position at TidalHealth Primary Care in Laurel?
After graduating from my pre-med program in the heart of COVID, I had limited access to shadowing and other healthcare experiences and wanted to take time to figure out my career path. I even spent most of my year in D.C. studying computer science, and while I enjoyed it, that experience only increased my desire to become a medical provider.
I started working in the Laurel office to further parse out if I wanted to pursue being a physician or mid-level provider. Working with Dr. Joseph Kim and our two nurse practitioners, Conor McLaughlin and MaryBeth Dickerson, has really aided in me seeing where I fit best in the healthcare system.
Tell me what you love most about that job.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with patients, getting to know them, and trying to be a calming uplifting presence in difficult seasons. I was surprised with how well and how quickly I got to know each of them. A lot of this was due to having a fantastic preceptor, Angel Adams. She is an expert level medical assistant, an incredible teacher, and a lovely person. It’s easier to constantly grow in your job when you have such a great model to follow.
Another favorite of my job is obviously working with my office team, I feel so blessed to be a part of this practice. I could not have asked for a better group of people.
OK, let’s get to the REALLY COOL part of this story! You’ve been accepted to medical school. We gotta have those details!
Yes! I am so honored and excited to have received multiple acceptances, including my top program. It feels surreal. I am happy to announce I will be starting the MD program at Penn State College of Medicine this summer, graduating class of 2028! The medical school application process is brutal, but to anyone who has dreams of being a doctor, please don’t let this discourage you!
Did you know, early in your life (and you’re still a young lady) that medicine was a career you wanted to pursue?
Not at all. In college, I started out as a Theology and Intercultural Studies double major, and for a period I was even a Cinema major! I knew that I wanted to help people, thinking possibly law school and the Peace Corps, but it took time to know how that all fit for me.
It wasn’t until I experienced a health crisis myself during my sophomore year of college that left me unable to move for about a month that I really got to experience the coolness of medicine. I knew medicine was for me when the health stress I was going through paled in comparison to the excitement I felt about medicine. This realization of wanting to become a doctor came definitely later than my classmates, who knew they wanted to be a doctor since they were 5 years old, but hey, better late than never, right?
I know your Mom is a longtime team member at TidalHealth Nanticoke. Who is she and what does she do?
My mom is Vicki Smith, and she is currently a nurse on MSU (3rd Floor) and works part time in clinical education.
How much did hearing her stories and watching her make that nursing commitment every day influence your choice?
Funny enough, growing up hearing her “gross out” nursing stories was one of the main reasons I didn’t think I was interested in medicine. Something about wiping butts did not seem appealing to me as a 13-year-old girl.
Now, at 25, it has been so cool to watch her perform her calling and be able to share her skills precepting others. My mom, with her entire being, cares so much for her patients and has not become hardened by the difficulties she has faced being a nurse. It’s inspiring and I strive to be just like her in that way.
In addition, my mom earned her Master’s and Doctorate degrees while working full-time, so she has been a big inspiration in the educational realm too.
Kudos to your mom! You may not know this, but you first hit our radar thanks to an email from Dr. Kim at the Laurel office who has been a mentor of yours. How important is his role in all of this?
Words cannot describe how meaningful and important his mentorship has been to me.
When people ask what I want to be when I grow up, I answer, “Dr. Kim,” because of how incredible of a physician he is. All jokes aside, it has been a huge blessing to work so close with such an intelligent, kind, caring, and funny physician.
Dr. Kim is truly a pillar of the community and goes above and beyond in all he does. He completely changed the way I view medicine and has taught me lessons that will last a lifetime. I cannot stress how grateful I am to have him as a mentor.
Let me make the obvious “pitch” early for Dr. Kim and others…we have this formidable Graduate Medical Education program at TidalHealth that will be well established by the time you graduate. That’s on your radar, I hope!
I would love to give back to my local community during my training and TidalHealth has so many incredible physicians to learn from. We’ll have to see where these next four years take me!
And, what if they take you back home to practice medicine? Maybe even in the Laurel office alongside Dr. Kim?
I would jump at any and all opportunities to work with Dr. Kim again. I think that would be a very cool full circle moment. Especially if this office kept its staff, TidalHealth Primary Care in Laurel is unmatched in my opinion.
Is there any opportunity for you to utilize the TidalHealth tuition reimbursement program for your medical training?
Unfortunately, no. Since I will no longer be a TidalHealth employee while I am in school, I do not qualify for this program. But potentially after training, I would be overjoyed to have my loans repaid by a future employer *wink wink*.
Noted! Doctors have an incredible opportunity to change lives and influence lives. I know this is a bit down the road for you, but looking forward, what do you hope to accomplish while wearing the white coat?
Oh, so many things!
A few things I am passionate about are women’s health, mental health, and health equity. After my experience as a patient, I know how intimidating it can be to talk to your doctor and how defeating it can be when it feels like your concerns aren’t taken seriously. Regardless of what specialty I go into, I want my patients to know I am on their side, and I am here to help.
Lastly, as a former tutor, I am enthusiastic about good, clear patient education. Everyone learns differently. I think creating and implementing resources for patients that address this need is important because most don’t learn well from a pamphlet.
We love those mentors and role models that positively impact young lives, and you already have so much of that experience. You do know that you’re already that, too, to others by what you have already achieved, right?
I believe everyone has a calling and we are all gifted in unique ways. Medicine caught me by surprise, and to be candid, for a lot of my journey, I’ve just felt like I’m winging it.
Of course, years of effort have been put into getting here today and I am incredibly thankful and proud. If this experience has taught me anything is to not count yourself out. I wasn’t top of my class, I took longer than 4 years to graduate with my bachelors, and I have ADHD. Looking around at my pre-med cohort, it was mostly men who had doctors as fathers and knew their paths since birth.
All that to say, with whatever you want to pursue, do not let the fact you are different from the “typical” mold stop you. Diverse experiences and backgrounds are needed in every field, especially medicine.
You are so right! I just need to know…how absolutely remarkable is all of this?
I think I am still in shock even a month later. I am overjoyed and focusing on preparing for these upcoming four years. None of this could have been possible without those I have met through TidalHealth, and I am really grateful.