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Dionne Hart, M.D.
Program: Psychiatry Residency, PGY-2, Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Hometown: Markham, Ill.
Medical School: Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical
Center
What attracted you to medicine and psychiatry?
"I can't remember ever wanting to do anything else - maybe because my father always told me I would be a doctor one day. I took time off before medical school to work and get some life experiences. I worked with abused children in a large social service agency in Chicago. I was fascinated by how differently children did given similar experiences and therapy and that led to my pursuing psychiatry in medicine."
What attracted you to Mayo Clinic for residency training?
"Once I walked in these doors I never looked back. From the first meeting with the program director I was completely impressed. I felt they really cared. The residents seemed very happy."
"At Mayo the education is protected, important and consistent. The faculty are genuinely interested in teaching. From the very first meeting, I saw that residents are here to learn a craft, not to fulfill a role. Also, after learning about Mayo Clinic's history and the founders, the Mayo brothers, and their ideals - which are still practiced here today - I feel like I'm continuing their mission - not only in a role as a physician, but in furthering health care in general - of putting the patient first."
Anything surprise you about Mayo's program?
"I'm very impressed with support at Mayo, and in so many ways - the staff, the efficiency, the eagerness of faculty to teach and mentor. I think Mayo can extend resources to patients and students much more quickly than other medical institutions. Our program directors provide a constant flow of information about patient care and research opportunities. I'm involved in several research programs with faculty right now and they are each inspired by patient needs here at Mayo. If I have an interest or question about anything in medicine, I can find a mentor who wants to help me pursue it."
What is living in Rochester like for you?
"Before moving here I'd never lived outside of the Chicago area. It was a challenge initially - Chicago was so large and diverse that I never felt that I stood out as a minority. But my children and I are transitioning well. Within days of beginning school my children made good friends. Our family is active in the Rochester chapter of the NAACP and other community activities - we've really reached out to help others better understand and embrace diversity and that is very rewarding. And I've made the best friends of my life here. Because Rochester is small, I think we are obliged to be there for each other. I would say that the close friendships that I've made here in the community and among my colleagues are the best part of being in Rochester."
What does your future look like right now?
"I plan to complete a fellowship in child psychiatry. I would like to stay in Rochester until my children are through with school. The schools are wonderful here and my three children are very happy. I'm also very excited because I was just named an American Psychiatric Association/Shire Fellow for 2005-2006."
"In the longer term, I realize that there are great opportunities out there - for me and for underserved patients. I am interested in practicing in urban and world settings where patients are currently underserved. I feel a responsibility to practice in places where patients have never had access to the type of quality health care practiced at Mayo."
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