Congratulations to our 2024 Winner!
Tanner Seitz
I was born and raised in rural Utah and attended undergraduate at Brigham Young University for 4 years. Shortly after graduating I attended Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona for medical school. It was during this time that I developed an interest in primary care, specifically family medicine. I was fascinated with the breadth of pathology encountered each day and found great joy in forming relationships with patients. I am currently a PGY-2 Family Medicine resident at Canyon Vista Medical Center in Sierra Vista Arizona. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my wife and 1-year old son, cooking, and participating in sporting events.
It is a great honor to receive this scholarship and I thank those who volunteered their time in reading the many essays that were submitted. While I realize there are many endeavors that could be pursued with this money, I feel it is most important to utilize it in a way that will benefit my patients'. My plan is to use this scholarship money to further my medical knowledge by attending family medicine conferences and pursuing other CME opportunities. With this precious gift that is being presented to me I plan to pay it forward and bless the lives of those who so graciously allow me to be involved in such a private and integral part of their daily lives.
My pursuit of a career in medicine truly began when I was a Junior in high school.
I knew I wanted to work in healthcare but wasn't sure if being a doctor was the right choice over other jobs in the field. I decided to shadow local doctors and healthcare professionals to make the most informed decision regarding my future career. Growing up in a medically underserved rural town near a Ute Native American reservation provided me the opportunity of shadowing a doctor who cared for patients in great need of not only medical treatment, but also health education. This doctor had excellent interpersonal skills allowing him to connect with his patients on a personal level, which is something I have always aspired to as a professional in the healthcare field. However, the most important aspect of this shadowing experience was hearing how much improvement patients had experienced in their lives because of the physician I worked with. His breadth of knowledge, love for his patients, and ability to educate in a clear and effective manner helped me realize I wanted to have the same impact on my future patients. Having high quality experiences with primary care doctors prior to medical school heavily influenced my decision to become a family medicine physician. My decision was also shaped by time spent in various rural settings throughout the United States and abroad in South America. These experiences opened my eyes to the disparities in many parts of my own country as well as worldwide. Witnessing this need furthered my resolve to complete medical school to become part of the solution to this vast problem. It was also during this time that I learned Spanish, becoming fully fluent. This valuable skill has allowed me to effectively and efficiently connect with, educate, and provide personalized care to a larger population, and will benefit the communities in which I may work in the future. During my rotational years of medical school, I had the privilege of completing several rotations in rural towns, further exposing how great of a need there is for primary health care throughout the United States.
The memories of and lessons learned from my time in communities lacking adequate healthcare resources ultimately led me to apply to residency programs where the bulk of my training would take place in rural areas. My desire to provide exceptional care in rural settings was the driving force behind this decision. I have had the privilege of matching and working in a family medicine residency program in rural southeastern Arizona. I have the opportunity to work in multiple small towns near the US-Mexico border where many patients either don't have adequate insurance, or more importantly, don't have access to basic physician care. I consider it a great blessing to be allowed to provide care to these people and form personal connections with them.
During these years of residency training I am being armed with expansive knowledge and skills that will allow me to provide individualized healthcare to my future patients. My goals to surpass expectations of competence and capability will fulfill my oath to ‘do no harm' and provide the best care possible to my community. The knowledge I am acquiring will permit me to perform various procedures and treat a myriad of different illnesses and ailments. My training is also teaching me that there are limits to what I am able to do as a primary care physician. Just as important as what I can do, is what I am unable or lack the resources to do. In future rural practice I will refer my clientele to the necessary specialists if I am unable to treat presenting conditions. I hope other doctors find the same drive to provide care to the underserved and populate these specialists in areas that otherwise go without. Ultimately, my objective is to ensure my patients' safety and do all I can to guarantee they receive excellent care.
As previously mentioned, my personal goal is to practice medicine in rural healthcare settings, as personal experiences have shown that these are areas in greatest need. Another great challenge faced by these locations is a lack of access to resources. I plan to be a part of the solution to lack of physicians. However, other resources are also in short supply. In recent patient encounters, I have seen patients with diabetes who can't get supplies for their continuous glucose monitors, have difficulty acquiring lancets, or run out of pods or insulin, and therefore are unable to adequately manage their diabetes. This clearly places these patients at great risk of deterioration and possible hospitalization. Other patients have difficulty affording medications, routine visits, or imaging evaluation. A simple ultrasound requires a trip to another office or is out of budget unless there is someone available who is trained in point-of-care ultrasound. With the training I am currently undergoing, I plan on doing all that I can to alleviate these burdens that many patients in rural areas are faced with every day. I will be the physician that is trained in point-of-care ultrasound with one available in my clinic at low cost. I plan on working with local health departments, my employer, state politicians, and health corporations for funding, ideas, and supplies for the betterment of care for my patients. As many know, becoming a doctor is a long, hard road, but is very rewarding when a patient's condition improves after receiving proper treatment. Becoming a doctor isn't about the financial prospect, but rather about truly caring for and aiding those who walk through our doors every day in dire need of our help. I find great joy in being able to interact and connect with my patients on a personal level. It is something I will always enjoy and look forward to each morning. As I continue my training in preparation for my future employment endeavors, I strive daily to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge that will allow me to give outstanding service to those who trust me with their wellbeing.