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 Christina Manders, D.O.
Program: Family Medicine Residency, PGY- 2, Mayo Family Clinic Kasson
Hometown: Prior Lake, Minn.
Medical School: Des Moines University - Iowa
What attracted you to medicine and family medicine?
"As cliché as it may sound, I decided to be a doctor when I was 6 years old and have never looked back. I've always felt the need to connect with the people around me and try to help them with any problems they have.It was pretty late in medical school before I settled on Family Medicine though. It was always at the top of my list, but I strongly considered Pediatrics and Obstetrics as well. After getting out on my clinical rotations, I realized how much I enjoy the variety of patients with different types of problems whom I might be able to help. Family Medicine allows me to truly connect with my patients and see them through both the most difficult and happiest of times. There's nothing more rewarding for me than to diagnose a patient's pregnancy,guide her through the prenatal experience, deliver the baby, and then care for both mom and baby as the child grows up."
What attracted you to Mayo Clinic forresidency training?
"When you make a list of all the best places you could go for training, Mayo invariably shows up on that list.I'm from Minnesota originally, so Mayo also had the draw of being closer to family and friends.More than that, I knew I fit in here and that's important. When I met the other residents and the staff, I could tell that they were people I could work with and learn from. It was a comfortable environment for me even before I started."
What makes the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency unique?
"Family Med isn't necessarily the first thing you think of when you think of Mayo. What's unique about the program here is the fact that Rochester and the surrounding area is home to more than 100,000 people who look to Mayo for their day-to-day healthcare needs, in addition to the worldwide draw for specialist care. By training at Mayo, I get the best of both worlds. I spend a lot of time at Kasson seeing patients in a small-town clinic setting, but I also spend time downtown treating patients in the hospital, where there are experts in every possible specialty whom I have access to and can learn from."
Anything surprise you about Mayo's program?
"It was asurprise to me to meet so many knowledgeable experts who love to teach. Mayo is truly a teaching institution and everyone wants to give you the best learning experience possible. If you have a cardiology-related question, you can just call a world-renowned cardiologist and they are happy to talk with you! The same holds true for all of the family medicine staff and residents. They are always available and willing to coach and teach."
What is living in Rochester like for you?
"I actually live north of Rochester in a small town, Zumbrota. It's another great new experience for me since I've never lived in a small town before. And personally, being a little outside of Rochester helps me to balance my work and home life better. It also works out well for my husband, who commutes to the Twin Cities every day. We do spend a lot of our free time in Rochester though. There are such great restaurants!"
What does your future look like right now?
"I'm really excited about my future. I had a challenging, but very rewarding intern year and I'm really hitting my stride as a second-year resident. I'm starting to see life beyond residency and evaluate all the options that have become open to me. For example, I'm still learning how extensive the Mayo network of Family Medicine Clinics really is. There are many diverse opportunities across Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin where I could practice in rural or suburban settings while still staying part of the Mayo family and retaining the close access to the phenomenal experts and specialists I've met here in Rochester."
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