Over the past 10 years, approximately 1,300 resident physicians have helped raise the standard of care in the Niagara region through a partnership between Niagara Health and the Niagara Regional Campus of McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.
Dr. Katelyn Baker, a graduate of the DeGroote School of Medicine’s Niagara Regional Campus, is currently a resident physician at Niagara Health. To mark Resident Awareness Week (Feb. 9 to 15), we asked Katelyn some questions to get to know her and her experience as a resident:
Q: Why did you want to become a physician?
A: I like working with people and really enjoy the privilege of being a physician. I get to know people in different ways and am able to develop really nice relationships with them. With these relationships, you are able to help people through both good and bad times.
Q: What area of specialty is your residency, and what year are you in?
A: I finished my residency in family medicine and am currently completing a third year in emergency medicine.
Q: Why did you choose your current area of residency?
A: I wanted to choose an area of generalist medicine. I get to see a very broad range of presentations in everything and anything, across all walks of life. You see people in any stage of health throughout their life, and that’s very interesting. I’m always learning in this area, and it keeps me very humble.
Q: What does a typical day-in-the-life for you look like during your rotations?
A: In the Emergency Department, my eight-hour shift is non-stop, which makes time go so fast. There’s never a dull moment. At one point you could be doing something straightforward and then you can get called in any direction.
Q: What is your favourite part about the residency program at NH?
A: The community at Niagara Health is wonderful, and the residents feel very welcomed. I’m very supported throughout my learning – both by the Niagara Regional Campus and faculty, as well as the NH physicians. You get to know your educators very well and are able to tailor your experience to your own goals and learning path.
Q: What is your biggest piece of advice for anyone pursuing a medical degree or completing their residency?
A: Be open-minded and always remember you are in a privileged position. The field of medicine is so diverse, try not to narrow yourself into one thing or another right away.
Niagara Health works with more than 90 academic partners to provide extraordinary learning experiences. Learn about academics at NH here.
