Karen Michelle Ross, MD

My patients' time is valuable, so I work to respect that and explain things in ways that suit their lifestyles. We can communicate by email, or with good old fashioned telephone calls. Either way, I enjoy listening to what is important to my patients. Every day is different, and every patient is unique.

Medicine has always been a passion of mine. Since I was young, I've always had this curiosity and always had this need to help others and really found my passion about 10 years ago and went into nursing. I have been a nurse ever since. I chose the specialty of gerontology while I was working as a home health nurse with Mercy. And so I got to know these patients and really discovered my passion for the lives of these patients, 65 and older, and felt like there was a need out here for practitioners that really focus on this age group. I want my patients to know that the type of care they're going to get with me is more of a partnership. I want them to feel heard. I want them to feel as if they've got someone in their corner willing to guide and educate and be there to help them make those correct choices and those right choices for their life.

From the time I was four years old, my parents called me, "Dr. Dusty," because they saw the natural caregiver in me. I get a great deal of satisfaction helping my patients through difficult times, but I also work hard to be proactive with health, so we don't have to play catch up later. It's important that my patients understand and agree with treatment plans, so I like to talk things through until they're comfortable.