DR . WHO
“ Sometimes , if you tell a patient that they have high blood pressure , give them the medicine , and tell them to go take it , it doesn ’ t click . I feel like if the patient knows the ‘ why ’ and ‘ how ’ something is happening , they can relate more and probably be more motivated to do the lifestyle changes that can be done without , or in addition to , medication .”
She decided in that moment that she would go back to school to complete pre-med requirements to go on to medical school . She knew it ’ d be a massive undertaking , but she was prepared for it so that she could fulfill her new passion .
“ I never thought I would become a doctor . It was the profession for the rich in the Philippines - those who had the means for tuition . But by working around barriers and persevering , we are able to live the unforeseen dream life that we have today ,” she said . “ You can pursue your own happiness and dreams . It ’ s okay to reinvent yourself in order to achieve that happiness . It ’ s okay to walk the road less traveled .”
Once back in Louisville , she got her BSN in 2004 and began taking her pre-med courses while also working in the hospital as a nurse . She worked 12 hour shifts Friday-Sunday and would go to school Monday-Thursday .
“ I had no life , but the purpose was so much bigger than that . I was so motivated to go to school to learn about the entire person and all the medical processes that go along with that .”
When considering medical school , she really only knew of one track , a Doctor of Medicine degree . However , while she was President of the Phi Delta Epsilon pre-medical society , one of the sponsors was a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine , and her world was opened to new opportunities . She did her research and found that a DO best aligned with her previous experience and philosophy of care .
“ DOs had more of the comprehensive , holistic care in terms of
caring for the whole patient , and that ’ s what nursing is , too . I wanted to help the person outside of just the high blood pressure . It was a perfect match for me .”
While applying to several medical schools , she found Ohio University in Athens , Ohio . This university was affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic and helped to connect students to clerkship mentors across the state . Between that and an interview that just “ felt like home ,” she knew this was it . During her final year of medical school in 2012 , she did her clerkship at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals in Cleveland , Ohio .
“ I really wanted to show up and prove myself . I was there a long time , maybe eight to 12 weeks and I worked with different teams and attendings there . I wanted to show them what I could do .”
As her clerkship was coming to an end , she began to prepare for the Match .
“ Like everything else in my life , it was not the normal route ,” she said . “ My class was the last who could Pre-Match , you could be given an offer early and not have to go through the usual Match . I was offered the Case Western internal medicine residency , and of course I wanted to go there , so I dropped everything else .”
It wasn ’ t just the excellent reputation of that residency . Vitally , she could be with her sweetheart , Dr . Brandon Kellie , who was also finishing up internal medicine and starting his fellowship . They had met nearly ten years earlier while volunteering at UofL Hospital , and had weathered schools of various kinds together , marrying in 2010 . In their third year in Cleveland , they had their first child , Brad . While she said that there is “ never really a great time ” to start a family in medicine , they decided this was best so that she could do elective research while on maternity leave , and finish her program without extending it . She knew this would allow her to both start a family
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