Growing up in a small town in Nebraska, I had thoughts that I really would be happier in a large city somewhere. I moved to southwest Michigan for a 3-year residency program at what was then Michigan State University's Kalamazoo campus. My plan was to finish my training and then to move on to one of those big cities somewhere to practice pediatric medicine.

Looking back, there was not a single moment that changed my mind. Instead, it was the beautifully unique atmosphere of this area that made me begin to see and understand that this was where I wanted to be. I learned a lot of medicine in those three years of residency, but I also learned to clean the lens that I was looking at life through. I realized that practicing in a more rural location was a better fit for the heart that I have, and that the people at Bronson that I could remain connected to by taking my first job in Paw Paw would provide me such an incredibly supportive network to get started.

Indeed, that has been the case. I am so incredibly blessed to celebrate 20 years in this building. Very soon, I’ll also be celebrating my 27-year anniversary working in this community.

So many of the people I initially knew through Bronson have now retired, but in such an incredible way, new individuals with the same truly special hearts have joined the system and remain my support network anytime I have needed help. More specifically in this community of Paw Paw, I have witnessed the exact same thing. There have been some retirements and life changes that have forced me to say some sad goodbyes, however, I remain surrounded by such an amazing team. We have a nursing staff that is kind and helpful beyond description, and an administrative and clerical staff that works so hard to be helpful and smooth out the bumps that any day might bring. The team of healthcare providers in this building has changed over these years, with only a couple of us remaining from when we opened the doors.  However, those remaining people, as well as the new individuals that have joined our group, have given me a special gift that they are not even aware of. I have been given the gift of contentment to continue serving in this community among such special people. I have been given the gift of better vision to understand what is really important.

Now, I can look back laughing a bit at myself, wondering how I ever thought a big city would be better suited to me compared to this truly special group of people I am blessed to see every day in this uniquely special community.