Jackie R, Doctor of Medicine (MD), Western Maine

Finding connection and community

A family physician in western Maine discovers the joy of small-town practice.

How is practicing in a rural setting different from the time you spent practicing and training in a big city? 

In Boston, New York, or any big city where you’re at a well-funded academic medical center, you get great experience – you see the sickest of the sick stay on the front edge of research. Oftentimes, the standard approach is to refer patients to a specialist. In a more rural setting, where the nearest specialist might be one, two, or three hours away, the kind of medicine you’re practicing is broader, and you’re working at the top of your license. It can be intimidating. But what you gain is a really unique connection to a community and to the people you’re serving. One of the beauties of family medicine is the broad training we receive. Practicing in a rural setting means really using that training to its fullest. It keeps you on your toes – staying current, learning constantly, and reaching out to colleagues when you need to.

Working in a rural place offers a lot of unique rewards and challenges. In a larger setting, you may never see your patients outside of the office. Some people need and want that. But here, you’ll run into your patients at the grocery store, at ball games, and while grabbing your morning coffee. That comes with its own challenges, but we’re trained trained for it, and the rewards infinitely outweigh the challenges. I’ve really learned to embrace that connection. It’s nice to see how people are living their lives.

What made you want to practice in rural Maine?

I grew up in a small town and I saw what it was like to need healthcare. When I went to medical school, it was always my dream to become someone who was extremely well-trained and then come back to serve people a small community. I was very lucky to have some rural experiences during my training that really made me fall in love with it. You can tell how much it means to people to have a doctor in town. You’re respected and seen as someone trustworthy. This can be a tough field, with all the things going on with insurance and the pressure to perform. But I chose to practice here because what I do is so rewarding. People are so appreciative that you’re there for them. When you’re practicing in a rural setting, you feel that connection to your community and to your patients. It inspires you to keep learning, to the best you for them.

How does the rural setting change the way you practice?

It’s not always about prescribing medications; a lot of the time. it’s about listening and being there for them. In a big city, I might see someone diagnosed with diabetes and refer them to an endocrinologist. In a more rural setting, that diagnosis takes on a whole new meaning. I have to figure out how to help that patient manage their medications and whether they can even afford them. And I am able to say to them in all honesty, “I’m going to be here to see you through this. I’m not going anywhere. If you need me, call me.” You build really special relationships with people. They know that when they’re having a tough time, they can bring it to me and it stays between us. That level of trust and connection is truly sacred in a rural practice.

How would you describe your quality of life, living in Maine?

I feel so lucky to live in Maine. It’s one of the most beautiful places on earth, with some of the last remaining places with untouched wilderness. If you enjoy peace of being on the ocean, on lakes, or in the woods, it’s a good place to be. I didn’t grow up in an especially outdoorsy family, but it’s become a big part of my life. I learned to fly fish in recent years and have become obsessed with it. I love being in a canoe. I do a lot of gardening, growing native shrubs and flowers, and now I’m starting to grow vegetables, too. I’m a sucker for a nice meal, andI also love to golf, do a little hunting and ride a four-wheeler. I can do all that here, which is part of what makes it such a unique place to live. 

And you really can have the best of both worlds here. You get access to e all the things you’d want from a city – world-class food, concerts, events – all within an easy drive or a short ride on a bus or train.