On this episode of White Coat Wednesday, Analie Fernandes, a second-year UQ-Ochsner student, sat down with Dr. Kathy Jo (KJ) Carstarphen on her recent visit to Australia. Dr. KJ is a clerkship director of medicine in society, head of the Tyrone Medical Society, and a primary care physician at Ochsner Health.
Students commencing the UQ-Ochsner program get assigned to a society that forms an additional support and mentorship that the student will carry until graduation and beyond. The Society Heads usually travel to Brisbane from New Orleans to meet in person with each student from their society and start forming these strong relationships where they can get support and guidance through academic or personal challenges.
Being a Society Head is a crucial contribution to our students’ success, so Dr. KJ shares more about how she approaches the role and how her experience as a guidance counselor has equipped her for mentoring the students in the Tyrone society.
During the interview, Dr. KJ discussed how her diverse academic background has shaped her approach to medicine. She reflected on how her varied interests have all contributed to her medical career. These experiences have equipped her with a unique perspective on mentoring, enabling her to support students facing academic and personal challenges effectively.
Dr. KJ also highlighted her MedVantage Clinics, which she started at Ochsner Health in 2016. These clinics focus on providing care to populations facing significant barriers to access, such as navigating complex healthcare systems or dealing with challenging medical conditions. By employing trauma-informed care practices and emphasizing patient trust, the clinics have seen remarkable improvements in patient outcomes. Dr. KJ noted the importance of listening to patients, allowing them to express their needs.
Moreover, Dr. KJ is deeply involved in the Medicine in Society clerkship, where students are placed in various clinical settings to develop compassionate care skills. Through non-violent communication and structural competency training, students learn to navigate and address the systemic issues that affect patient care. This training equips future physicians to understand and mitigate the harmful structures within the healthcare system.
When discussing structural violence and cost of care, Dr. KJ mentioned the Stars Program, a fellowship aimed at engaging medical students in research and quality improvement projects to reduce unnecessary healthcare costs. This initiative teaches students to recognize and rethink harmful financial practices in the healthcare delivery environment.
Dr. KJ also shared her thoughts on being a recipient of the AMSA Women Leaders in Medicine award, offering advice to aspiring female physicians. She emphasized the importance of staying true to oneself and not changing to fit in with the dominant culture. By embracing their unique qualities and remaining authentic, future physicians can make significant contributions to the medical field.
Through her many different experiences and compassionate approach to care, Dr. KJ exemplifies the profound impact of mentorship and support in the medical profession. Her insights and dedication continue to inspire and guide the next generation of physicians in the UQ-Ochsner program.
