Department Spotlight: Dr. Kathleen Milne
Resident Spotlight: Dr. Kathleen Milne, Department of Family Medicine
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario.
What degrees do you have, and from what universities?
I have a Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph in Biomedical Science, a Master of Science from Western University in Clinical Anatomy, and an MD from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University.
Why did you choose to pursue your residency at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry?
I chose to pursue residency at Schulich for a number of reasons. For starters, it has been my home school for six years now and I have come to see how much they care for their students and residents. The staff physicians and professors at Schulich are incredible and are always enthusiastic to turn situations into teachable moments. Furthermore, I have a particular interest in rural medicine and love the opportunities that Schulich has in a variety of rural areas within Southwestern Ontario. I have been exposed to a number of different rural practices with a diverse group of interests and I love seeing the possibilities within a small community family practice. It also doesn't hurt that I can be close to home and see my family often.
What inspires you in your work?
A big inspiration for me within my journey in medicine has been my mother. She has been a family physician for 35 years. Some of my earliest memories are accompanying her on hospital rounds, meeting her patients and getting ice cream from the nursing staff. I was privileged to grow up hearing of her trials and triumphs within her practice. To this day if I meet a patient of hers, they always speak of what wonderful care she has given them throughout the years and, in some cases, what an integral part of their life she has been. I only hope to be half the physician she is some day.
I also love seeing the positive impact that I can make in a patient's wellbeing - whether it is reassurance, helping them traverse a new diagnosis, or counseling them through a difficult time, I am truly humbled at the level of trust that is bestowed upon me even at this level. I am also continually inspired by the staff physicians who mentor me. I love seeing the different relationships that they have developed with patients, and how they integrate their knowledge of that patient into a very personalized form of medical care.
What has been your greatest experience to date in your residency?
My greatest experience to date in residency - I'm not sure I've had one particular experience that has stood out for me. In general, beginning residency on family medicine in Petrolia was simply fantastic. They have a brand new building for the family health team, and an amazing staff that always helped me as I worked my way through learning the ropes. There were many patients whom I saw quite ill in the hospital on morning rounds, and it delighted me to watch them improve, send them home, and see them for follow up in the office doing well and thanking me for their care. The staff physicians were always there to help and I was frequently encouraged to see them for questions or concerns.
What special interests or hobbies do you have?
I am an avid reader, particularly science fiction. I also love baking and am always trying new things in the kitchen - my most praised dessert is cheesecake but I have been working on different pies during the holiday season.
What do you do when you're not working?
In my free time, you can find me at the gym or in the kitchen. As I said, I love to bake and I love making nice dinners for family and friends. I also tear through novels and often stay up way too late reading. On the weekends I'm usually visiting my husband who lives out of town, and we love going to the movies or trying new restaurants.
