DR . WHO
( continued from page 29 ) then with the second patient , you ’ re a pediatrician . Then by the third patient , you ’ re a psychiatrist . It ’ s a lot of adjusting and adapting .”
When she ’ s not providing hands-on patient care , she ’ s in the classroom teaching . While the last year has required them to do virtual learning , she said it ’ s not such a bad thing , as it has allowed people to participate even when they might be off service or far away . When courses do meet in person , there are a lot of simulations and casebased learning , along with small group discussions , which Dr . Platt said makes things much more interactive and develops the students ’ critical thinking . Those skills then translate directly to the clinical side , helping the students in real time .
“ It ’ s nice to see them develop in three short years . From fledgling interns without confidence yet , we see them blossom . We give the residents a lot of autonomy , with a watchful eye over them , but they develop themselves so that they are practice-ready when they graduate ,” she said . “ That is the biggest reward , to see that development of an intern to a true emergency medicine physician by the time that they graduate .”
Dr . Platt and her husband Michael will celebrate their 19 th wedding anniversary this year . Michael was previously an employee at Toyota Manufacturing for over 20 years before retiring in February , when Dr . Platt said he was quick to start on her “ honey-do list .” They have a 16-year-old son named Sam , a junior at St . X . As any parent of a busy teenager could tell you , Dr . Platt lives vicariously through her son , and he keeps her on her toes . She credits much of her success in medicine to her two loves , her husband and son .
“ I absolutely could not do this without them . There are times when I have to work on Christmas or Thanksgiving or weekends and my husband and my son have been so supportive . It is all because of them .”
In counterpoint to the chaotic emergency room , Dr . Platt enjoys gardening at home as well as floral design and bouquet arrangements . “ It ’ s a nice way to use the artistic side of my brain . I really enjoy design and architecture , my home is my sanctuary ,” she said . “ If I could be Martha Stewart , I would--minus the jail time .”
Also important to Dr . Platt is being involved on local and national boards for organizations close to her heart . She is one of four Kentucky State Councilors ( and the only female ) for the American College of Emergency Physicians and does a lot of volunteer work for the American Board of Emergency Medicine . She also serves the Council of Residency Directors and is currently chairing a committee that looks at the impacts of COVID-19 on emergency medicine education . Looking forward , she hopes to sit on more boards of national committees to serve as a female voice , to give women a seat at the table .
Dr . Platt ’ s care for her patients doesn ’ t stop within the walls of the hospital , though . Active with both GLMS and the Kentucky Medical Association , policy and advocacy are essential to her role as a physician . She received a certificate in Healthcare Law from the UofL Brandeis School of Law in 2018 , and said it helped her learn more about the law of medicine and thus made her a better advocate and policy maker .
“ There ’ s a lot of law and policy that goes into emergency medicine and learning more about that from the law side is fascinating . I have a medical mind and tend to be more scientific , and a lawyer ’ s mind thinks differently so I got to learn more about it from a lawyer ’ s perspective . The more education and the more we know , the better we can advocate for our patients .”
Dr . Platt sees health care advocacy not only as something important to her personally , but also as a responsibility she must take on behalf of her patients and