Physician Q & A

Why did you decide to become a physician?

I always knew I wanted to work with children and initially thought of becoming a teacher. I did some shadowing with my home town family practice doctor at the urging of my mom and loved it!

What are your clinical areas of interest?

I love working with women and children. The fellowship year of my family practice residency allowed me to focus on additional training in women's health.

What is your philosophy of patient care?

We have a unique perspective in family practice in that each time we see and treat a patient we not only help that patient, but also impact the entire family. We are doctors who can prescribe medicine, but even more, we are teachers and counselors who can offer reassurance, encouragement and understanding to make difficult situations and illnesses more bearable for those we treat.

How do you spend your free time? (family, hobbies, interests, volunteer activities, etc.)

In my free time I enjoy taking walks, playing outside with my boys and scrap booking.

Provide an interesting anecdote about you.

Just a few weeks ago I had a day in clinic when I ran into a patient in the hall. She was there to see another physician in the group. I have treated her in the past and during inpatient had taken care of her mother in the hospital, but hadn't seen her for a long time. She came rushing up to me, gave me a big hug and with tears in her eyes said, "I don't know what I would have done without Dr. Albertson. I never would have made it through my mother's death last year without her." It really touched me...I made a difference to her...that's what I enjoy most.