Kevin F, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Western Maine

Primary Care can be challenging, it’s important to have outlets

“In a small community, you see how much of an impact you can make.”

What makes working in a rural area so fulfilling?

One of the best parts about being in a small community like this is you get to know the people and they get to know know you fairly well. I came here shortly after my residency. After being here for 32 years, I’ve gotten to watch kids grow up, and gotten to know multiple generations of the same families. You see how much of an impact you can make as a primary care doctor. And you’re somebody that patients get to know and trust.

The fulfillment comes from seeing patients improve and being able to see the fruits of everything I do. In some large settings, you might treat somebody once, but you don’t know what the outcome is. Here, I have close follow-up with my patients. I have patients come in and tell me that they appreciated me sticking with them and harping on them to get healthy. I love being able to change somebody’s life to make them healthier. Sometimes I’ll run into a patient at the grocery and they’ll show me what they’re buying, and they’re so proud to show me that they’re working to get healthier. And when I see that it’s all worth it.

I’ve gotten involved in community organizations like the chamber of commerce and the Rotary, which has been great. In the office you can see what some of the local needs are, and if you’re involved in the community, you can do something about it. For example, for years, I noticed that kids who were coming in for their physicals, weren’t doing any after-school physical activities. For many of them, the barrier was cost. So, through my role in the Rotary, I led the effort to start a 5K race to raise funds to start free after-school programming. We’ve raised thousands of dollars through this event since it started.

How would you describe your lifestyle in rural Maine?

Maine is a place where you can come, relax, enjoy your surroundings, and not have to worry about a lot of things, like high crime rates. I have friends who are working in cities, and they don’t know their neighbors or the people around them. They don’t have respect because they don’t get a chance to get to know their patients, and patients don’t get the chance to know them. 

Primary care can be challenging. It’s really important to have outlets. Here, you can go for a bike ride, go for a run, go for a hike, go skiing, or head to the golf course, so you can get out of your head and relax.

What are some misconceptions about what it’s like to practice medicine in rural Maine?

For those who get nervous because they fear they’ll be isolated, between working with members of your team, and other providers and hospitals in the area, you don’t feel as alone as you might think. Some people think that they’d be bored up here. If you didn’t enjoy the surroundings you would be. But if you came up here to enjoy everything that this has to offer, you won’t miss out.