As a high school student, Dr. Jesse Dunn from Midlands Family Medicine, attended career day. “There were different professionals there to talk to the students,” said Dunn. “I spent some time chatting with a local doctor and thought, That would be a great career. That was really the first time I felt an interest in working in medicine.” After high school, Dunn served a two-year mission for his church. Nearly a year after he returned home, while attending college, he met his wife, Jessica. “We married young,” said Dunn, “and our life was very busy between school and work.” Not long into their marriage, Jessica started feeling sick. “She lost 30-40 pounds in a month,” said Dunn. “She looked skeletal.” One day she called her mother-in-law from work; she was experiencing vision problems and couldn’t drive. “My mom took her to the hospital right away,” said Dunn. Jessica was immediately admitted and spent six days in intensive care in diabetic ketoacidosis. Throughout her hospitalization, Dunn was impressed with the physicians who worked tirelessly to help his wife. “That was what lit that fire again for me,” said Dunn. A few years later, when Dunn complete his bachelor’s degree, he applied to medical school with It’s never too late to chase your dream
the support of his wife. “We had two young kids at the time, so we knew it would be challenging,” said Dunn, “but we decided to go for it.” When asked what advice Dunn would have for anyone considering becoming a doctor, he said, “It’s never too late to chase your dream. Some people are intimidated by medical school. I was 30 years old with a wife and two kids when I started. It isn’t easy, but it is definitely possible. You can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it.”
Sahu makes lifelong ambition come true
Growing up in India, Dr. Geetanjali Sahu, child psychiatrist at Great Plains Behavioral Health, had a close-knit family. “One of my aunts married an orthopaedist,” said Sahu. “I had always felt an interest in medicine, and he became a mentor to me.” Sahu’s uncle took her under his wing, encouraging Sahu to pursue a career in healthcare. “In high school, he let me observe his surgeries,” said Sahu. “I found it very interesting.”
“but psychiatry also fascinated me.” Combining the two, Sahu found what suited her best. She was in an online group with other physicians headed overseas when she met her husband, Dr. Kartik Anand. “It worked out well–we did our fellowships in Houston and then got jobs at the same hospital in North Platte. We moved here a few years ago with our twin sons, and we love the community here.” (Anand works as an oncologist at Great Plains Health.)
Sahu attended medical school in India and then decided to specialize and practice in the US. “Initially, I thought pediatrics,” said Sahu,
“Although it is difficult being away from family in India, they are able to visit often,” said Sahu. “They sacrificed, both financially and
Doctors’ Day 2022 8
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