Kelsey Sholund, 2016 recipient of the Dr. Burr Field Scholarship

Kelsey Sholund

University of Washington School of Medicine, Class of 2017

Hometown: Seattle, WA

College: The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, studied Biology, Chemistry, Spanish

Favorite clinical rotation, and why: I have really enjoyed all of my rotations during medical school, but one rotation that surprised me and exceeded my expectations was Psychiatry in Helena, MT. I knew going in that it was very unlikely that I would be choosing psychiatry as a specialty, but appreciated that knowing how to treat mental health issues is a key part of primary care. As part of the rotation, I worked with patients in the only pediatric psychiatric hospital in Montana. Because the child psychiatrists who I worked with there gave me autonomy, I felt like I was a valuable part of their health care team. I was also very impressed with the community in Helena, and enjoyed many hikes with classmates and co-workers there. 

What drew you to Family Medicine? I love the variety and flexibility in Family Medicine. I love being able to take care of just about any patient who walks into the door of the clinic or hospital. I love seeing the interactions between families, different generations, and the full circle of life. I love that within a career in family medicine, a physician can start out with a practice that serves many children and young families and by the end of their career transition to a practice that takes care of patients on hospice at the end of their life. I hope that my career in family medicine will be varied and broad, and I look forward to being an involved member of the community where I practice.

Anything else you want people to know about you?   I am so honored to receive this scholarship from the Dr. Burr Field Scholarship Fund. As a fifth generation Washingtonian, it has been emphasized again and again that we live in one of the most amazing states in the country. I have spent most of my life on the west side of the Cascades, however during my 3rd and 4th year of medical school I have been on rotations in Idaho, Montana and Alaska, and I now appreciate the beauty of the Inland Northwest much more.

In my free time I enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities; skiing, biking, and backpacking are my favorites. I am a lifelong member of the Girl Scouts of USA, and spent many summers working at a GS camp on the Olympic Peninsula. I still volunteer with the organization and empowering girls through outdoor activities and community work will always be a priority for me. I also love to share my passion for baking with family, friends, and co-workers in the hospital, who are always willing to try my latest experiment.

Raymond Aguilar Koopmans, 2016 recipient of the Dr. Burr Field Scholarship

Raymond Aguilar Koopmans

University of Washington School of Medicine, Class of 2017

Hometown: Mount Vernon, WA

College: University of Washington, double major in Mathematics and Biochemistry

Favorite clinical rotation, and why: My favorite clinical rotation was family medicine in Othello, WA. It was my first rotation of 3rd year and I remember feeling really nervous and excited at the same time. I was required to see 12 patients in a day and write all the notes. I definitely learned how to be efficient. But what I enjoyed most was the patient population I was serving. I was speaking Spanish 90% of the time. The patients I was taking care of were farmworkers just like my parents and I once were. I had the privilege of being able to educate some of my patients on their new diagnosis or on ways to live healthier lives. I was also able to witness the miracle of childbirth, take out a fishing hook that a young boy accidentally stepped on, and injected knees for pain relief all in single day. I remember going home feeling fulfilled and happy.

What drew you to Family Medicine? Growing up I thought all doctors were family doctors. It wasn’t until later that I realized I was very wrong. I love the long term relationships you build with patients in family medicine. You truly get to know all aspects of your patients unlike any other specialty. I also enjoy the variety in family medicine. In any given day, you can see a newborn, an 8-year-old well child check, a teenager sports physical, follow up on a patient who has been trying to quit smoking, show a new mom her baby’s heartbeat, perform procedures and teach patients the physiology of their chronic illness.

Anything else you want people to know about you? My community has continuously been my motivation in pursuing this challenging career. I have a responsibility to serve the underserved because of all they have done for me. I did not get to where I am today alone. I have had many teachers, advisors and mentors who really deserve this award. There is a dire need to increase the diversity in all health related fields and it is a strong passion of mine to encourage and motivate more underrepresented minorities to fulfill their dreams of becoming physical therapist, nurses, social workers, doctors, dentists etc. I spearheaded the creation of the first Latino pre-health club at the University of Washington that now has over 100 active underrepresented minority pre-health students. This pre-health organization is dedicated to increasing the number of underrepresented students in healthcare as well as improving health outcomes of underserved minority populations through education and activism. We meet monthly to discuss personal and/or academic issues. Provided guidance and support in preparing medical or dental school applications as well as give workshops on professionalism, asking for a letter of recommendation, studying techniques etc.