March 15, 2021

My Why: Dr. Sean Wherry

Central, Clinical Partners

 

My father was a family medicine doctor and his father was a family medicine doctor, and they worked together in a small practice in a farming community in Northern Colorado. My grandfather was actually grandfathered into family medicine. He started practicing prior to it existing as a specialty. But he came from the origins of what it meant to be a family medicine doctor. You really were part of the community and you took care of the entire community, as well.

As a physician in a small community, the community as a whole becomes your patient — not just those patients sitting in your exam room. Seeing that kind of firsthand as a child growing up, I think made a very strong impression upon me about how I see medicine and how I want to practice medicine.

Staying Grounded

For me, what helps me stay grounded is the idea that I’m in a unique position and I’ve been entrusted by my patients

It would be Pollyanna-ish to say there are not frustrations. There are absolutely things we need to work on. For me, what helps me stay grounded is the idea that I’m in a unique position and I’ve been entrusted by my patients and this community with this task of trying to help them be healthy. And move through these stages of life. There are a very few professions that are entrusted with the type of responsibility. We have to be mindful and respectful that the community looks at us this way and realize it’s an honor to be able to work for our patients.

Family Medicine
St. Joe Clinic, St. Joseph MN