Church, Vanessa, Renee

Ever since I was little, I have loved helping other people. If someone fell down or felt sick, it bothered me and I would do everything I could to help. I credit my mother and grandmother with instilling this love in me; they taught me that being good to others and helping people comes from your heart, and is a reflection of who you are inside. That desire to care for others has continued into adulthood and logically led me to medicine. \n I chose family medicine so I could care for patients of all ages. My time in both primary care and in cardiology has shown me it is up to providers to consider all parts of a patient and then partner with the patient to plan their care. Each patient is a puzzle where one piece affects all the others. I ask about a patient's home life, work or family needs so I can understand how all of that contributes to their quality of life. That also helps me understand their overall health and how it's impacting their day-to-day activities so we can find ways to improve it when needed. \n My wonderful husband and I love spending time outdoors with our son. I also love to fish...as long as I catch more than my husband and can finish the excursion with bragging rights! Our son has intellectual disabilities and is nonverbal. He has taught me to enjoy life from a different point of view and appreciate small things like laughter. He has also opened my eyes to see people even more as individuals, all with deeper stories than we could possibly understand. I advocate for my patients just like I advocate for my own son, and I encourage my patients, just like my son, to be working toward a goal in life no matter the circumstances.