DR . WHO ?
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT JANE CORNETT , MD
Aaron Burch
Dr . Jane Cornett stays off Facebook . Her practice hasn ’ t needed a website in the seven years since its inception . But , a life away from the internet doesn ’ t mean a doctor stays away from her patients . As a palliative care and internal medicine physician , Dr . Cornett ’ s presence needs only to be felt in person by families seeking end-of-life care and guidance .
“ To be effective as a palliative care physician , you just need regular , sometimes daily , coversations . Things can change rapidly . Patients and families need to have an up-to-date understanding of what is taking place ,” said Dr . Cornett .
The progression to her current career as a palliative care specialist was a natural one for Dr . Cornett . Growing up as Jane Brooks in Louisville , Dr . Cornett knew from an early age that medicine was her calling . The daughter of Les and Janet Brooks , and middle child between two brothers , she grew up in Hikes Point and graduated from Central High School in the late 1970s .
“ I was always good at school , though I was shy . My biggest struggle was learning to speak for myself . I could always do well on tests , but having to speak up or state an opinion was a struggle . It wasn ’ t until I worked for the Air Force , years later , that I learned how to get around that .”
When she wasn ’ t studying or spending time with family , the soon-to-be Dr . Cornett read novels , often science fiction and fantasy . She also loved film and worked at Showcase Cinemas during her high school years .
After high school , Dr . Cornett pursued her education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville . The jump from attending Louisville public school to the esteemed facility was not lost on her . “ That was a wonderful opportunity ,” Dr . Cornett recalled . “ I tell people that I learned to read and write at Vanderbilt - to really , critically read and write . That was a huge change for me .”
After Vanderbilt , Dr . Cornett returned to Louisville to attend medical school . In an effort to stay as out of debt as humanly possible , she participated in a US Air Force Scholarship , attending six weeks of courses before medical school at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery , Alabama . Her commitment would then pick up after residency where she spent a month at the Randolph Air Force Base in Texas before being stationed in Louisiana .
“ Both trainings were very positive experiences ,” said Dr . Cornett . “ I learned how to dress and behave as an officer . I learned protocol and chain of command . There was also a fitnesss component but it wasn ’ t bad .”
During her first year of medical school , Dr . Cornett met her future husband , Denver Cornett . They shared a unit lab and were soon dating before marrying in 1990 . For her internship , Dr . Cornett pursued Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati . The couple then moved to Louisiana to complete her residency with the US Air Force .
“ Back in those days , women weren ’ t in the armed forces as much . The Air Force was probably the one most accepting of women . That was how I chose that particular branch . It ’ s funny , the day I began active duty was the day Kuwait was invaded ,” Dr . Cornett recalled . “ Fortunately , they left one physician behind on base , and that was me . I was lucky .”
While working in Louisiana at the former England Air Force ( continued on page 30 )
Editor ’ s Note : Welcome to Louisville Medicine ’ s member spotlight section , Dr . Who ? In the interest of simply getting to know each other as a society of colleagues , we ’ ll be highlighting random GLMS physicians on a regular basis . If you would like to recommend any GLMS physician member to the Editorial Board for this section , please e-mail aaron . burch @ glms . org or call him at 736-6338 .
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