Our H.E.R.O. Award -Honoring Excellent Resident Observations – was launched to highlight the personal sacrifices and educational commitment during a medical resident’s professional adult life. We realize, considering the fast moving changes in healthcare, how courageous medical residents are to embark upon a career in medicine with such an uncertain future. This award is our way of recognizing that courage.
We wanted to take a moment to introduce you to our nominees individually:
Katie Murray
University of Kansas – Kansas City, KS
Dr. Murray went to medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Katie’s realization that her leadership can transform people’s lives made her medical school experience memorable.“I believe that I am a leader that can pass on my motivation and skills to others. I feel that I can see good and true passion in others and use my leadership strength to bring this out. I want to make a difference in lives; not just my patients but in all those who surround me daily (students, other physicians, nurses, all hospital employees) and believe that medicine is my ticket in making a connection with so many individuals and imprinting those lives.Dr. Murray enjoys taking care of patients from all walks of life, which is something seen on a daily basis in urology. Katie says
“It is great getting to know my patients and learning about their life and being a part of major life events for them. The operations and diseases that we treat are truly life changing. It is great to be there for them and and help them through the emotional and physical changes that often occur.”The specialty of urology lends itself through very intimate and private conversations. People share with their urologist things they don’t share with their spouse. Katie has the ability to be a confidant for her patients and wins their trust immediately. She then backs that up with the an immense level of judgment and a deliberate execution of surgical skill. Katie has made a strong commitment to building a career in treating urological malignancies. After her residency, she will be going on to a very rigorous and competitive urologic oncology fellowship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Katie’s choice to pursue medicine stems from a sincerity which most physicians learn after many years of practice – the very simple and pure feeling that the patient is priority. That ownership; the realization that the patient is depending on your clinical judgment, your research experience, your surgical skill, your ability to bring expert opinion and consensus, that yearning that something more can be done, that anxiety that something has been missed – this is what drives Katie. And that she takes this challenge head on with full responsibility motivates her. She knows that she can make a difference and she demands that all around her put forth the effort. Katie’s role model in life is her aunt. Her aunt is a nurse. Her greatest motivation, according to her, is not one incident but the tirelessness and sustainability by which she improves the lives of others, at work and home. Katie says
“I truly feel that medicine is exactly where I belong. I consider medicine (and urology) my hobby. I would think it would be a sacrifice to my personal satisfaction and happiness if I didn’t get to spend my days and life taking care of others and being amongst other health care providers who feel exactly the same way. This is probably not the right answer, but don’t think I have sacrificed anything.”Katie is very humble to think she has not sacrificed much, but she is sincere when she says she doesn’t feel like her hard-work, effort, and sleepless nights are sacrifice. Her commitment is very strong and comes from an inner discovery and peace which most physicians take a career to recognize, if ever. Vote for Katie here. If you know a resident that deserves to be recognized, please nominate your candidate here.
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