Healthcare becomes passion
Dr. Kathy Lopez, pediatrician at Great Plains Pediatrics, always felt a desire to work in healthcare. “Growing up in Indiana,” said Lopez,
Lopez began volunteering at a children’s hospital and decided to go back to school to become a physician. Lopez attended medical
“my friend’s father was a doctor, and that career always felt interesting to me.” As a teen, Lopez volunteered at a local hospital. “Back then we were known as the candy stripers,” said Lopez. “We wore red-and-white striped uniforms and assisted the nursing staff with patient needs. We would refill water and ice, take books and magazines to rooms, or assist nurses by taking vital signs. We did whatever needed to be done.” Lopez’s father, a child of the Great Depression era, encouraged Lopez to get a four-year degree with a stable income. “My parents
school at Northwestern and completed her residency in Pittsburgh. She had been working at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for six years when she was approached by a recruiter. He told her about an opportunity somewhere she had never heard of: North Platte, Nebraska. Lopez went to North Platte for an on-site visit. “After I met Dr. Perry and Dr. Shepherd, I knew it would be a good fit,” said Lopez. When asked if she regrets her time spent in accounting rather than medicine, Lopez said, “I’m glad I had experience in both. I think having more experience in different areas makes me a better provider.”
valued education,” said Lopez. “They wanted to make sure we could always support ourselves.” Lopez earned her degree in accounting, working at one of the top accounting firms in Chicago. Lopez was assigned to work on healthcare audits, and her interest in healthcare sparked once again.
For those who have taken a different path but are considering a career in healthcare, Lopez said, “It is never too late to try something different. Lots of people change careers, and if it is your passion, you should go for it.”
emotionally, so I could be where I am today. I feel lucky to have their constant support. They are so proud of what I have achieved.”
When asked what advice she would have to anyone considering a career as a doctor, Sahu said, “The whole process of becoming a physician is tough and stressful, but it is also very rewarding. You constantly learn new things−about yourself, about medicine, and about people. That is what makes the work so exciting. Dig deep and make sure it is what you want−and then go for it!”
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