ACOFP Blog
For Family, By Family—ACOFP Blog
Students interviewed Jake Starsiak, DO, MBA, for our next Resident Council Spotlight interview to learn more about his residency program, what being a part of ACOFP means to him and what advice he has for students.
The Student Association of the ACOFP continues to partner with the Resident Council on personal interviews. We are excited about the insights and perspectives our residents provide students in planning for residency and engaging in volunteer opportunities within ACOFP.
For our next article in the series, students interviewed Jake Starsiak, DO, MBA, to learn more about his residency program, what being a part of ACOFP means to him and what advice he has for students.
I chose the University of Wisconsin (UW) family medicine program because I wanted broad spectrum training, ranging from academic hospital medicine to obstetrical care. Ultimately, primary care is an engrained part of the Madison community. The UW Madison program is committed to the community health aspect of medicine. We collaborate with community partners to extend our presence outside of the walls of our clinics and hospitals.
Additionally, my program cares about our osteopathic education. I have enjoyed furthering my knowledge and comfort with the incorporation of OMT into my clinical practice. Our program is a such a unique place to train, and it speaks volumes about it, as family medicine graduates practice in all aspects of medical care when they graduate from our program. I am a valued member of a special medical community who have active leaders in all realms or family medicine.
When looking at my future profession as a physician, I went into my clinical training with an open mind. I found myself enjoying specific aspects of each rotation I was on. However, I always came back comparing each rotation to my time in the family medicine office. Completing several family medicine rotations, I realized that each physician I worked with practiced family medicine in a way that worked for them. Some were leaders in their community, while others worked in outpatient and inpatient settings.
Moreover, the connections they had with their patients is what ultimately made my decision. I wanted to be someone’s doctor. The continuity aspect of family medicine has been the most fulfilling part of the career. Helping a family understand the passing of a loved one or taking care of a new child following a continuity delivery brings an indescribable energy to the job. Family medicine stands for taking care of a one problem aspect of medicine; it is actively treating the whole patient.
A piece of advice for medical students comes from my experience in medicine. I often found myself in the “finish the job” fallacy in medical school. This means I was always concentrated on studying for the next test or finishing the rotation to just begin the next phase of becoming a physician. If you can alter your mindset to enjoy the moment or find value in the now, it will pay off in your mental positivity tremendously.
As cheesy as it may seem, medicine is not about the destination; it is about the journey. It is about the friends you make and the patients you care for along the way. Yes, it can be a struggle at times, but know that what you do is special and makes a huge difference in a people’s lives.
ACOFP is a community of current and future family physicians that champions osteopathic principles and supports its members by providing resources such as education, networking and advocacy, while putting patients first.