Mara Hazeltine, 2018 recipient of the Dr. Burr Field Scholarship

University of Washington School of Medicine, Class of 2019

Hometown:  Spokane, Washington

Undergraduate: University of Washington Seattle, studied Psychology

Favorite clinical rotation:  It is truly hard to choose a favorite clinical rotation, which is one of the reasons why I chose Family Medicine! Pediatrics was a particularly memorable clerkship for me in Bozeman, Montana. I rotated both inpatient and outpatient, in the NICU, PICU, and emergency room. I also spent time with the public health nurses who provided home visits to pregnant moms who couldn’t make it to clinic.  We visited rural schools to help with immunizations.  It was incredible to see how all the pieces fit together – how we as providers can utilize broader systems to help our patients wherever they are in their lives.  I believe that children deserve the best shot at success we can give them, and if we can help families make thoughtful decisions, they can flourish. 

What draws you to Family Medicine?  After college, I taught math in a low-income middle school.  I went into medicine with the intention of providing healthcare to families like those of the children in my classroom – the kids who came to school coughing for weeks on end, or with broken bones that went untreated due to their families being uninsured or fearful of deportation.  Although education can be a “great equalizer,” good health is the foundation that allows students to be able to focus and thrive in school.  My time spent in underserved communities both before and during medical school has reinforced my passion for preventative medicine and addressing social determinants of health.  Family doctors and are well-positioned to make a real and lasting difference in their patients’ lives and in their communities over a lifetime.  They see the big picture and treat the whole person.

Anything else you want people to know about you?  It is a true honor to receive this scholarship in recognition of a doctor who touched so many lives.  Learning about Dr. Burr Field’s impact was inspiring.  From being a warm father, husband, brother and son, to dedicating his life to rural medicine, and facing hardship with courage and faith, he led a rich life and was obviously loved by many.  I look forward to following in the footsteps of great leaders like him.  I will strive to serve my community in a way that would have made Dr. Field proud.

Read More

Casey Collins, 2018 recipient of the Dr. Burr Field Scholarship

Headshot- Casey.jpg

University of Washington School of Medicine, Class of 2019

Hometown: Cashmere, Washington

Undergraduate: Gonzaga University, studied Biology and Philosophy

Favorite clinical rotation: My favorite clinical rotation was my first rotation in family medicine. I worked with a group of physicians that delivered babies in addition to general outpatient care. It was incredibly rewarding to help deliver the babies and see them in the clinic in the subsequent weeks.

What draws you to Family Medicine? I see family medicine as both the most challenging and rewarding specialty. The scope of care is immense; from the emergency department to the labor and delivery floor, family physicians are pushed to the limits of their knowledge which leads to a life of learning and growth. The rewards of family medicine for me result from the life-long relationships built with patients and the opportunity to help patients live better, healthier lives.

Anything else you want people to know about you? Thank you to the Field family for this special award. Thank you to my wife, Lauren, and all of my family for their support!

Martin Box, 2018 recipient of the Dr. Burr Field Scholarship

Martin Box.jpg

University of Washington School of Medicine, Class of 2019

Hometown: Spokane, Washington 

Undergraduate: Middlebury College in Vermont, studied biology

Favorite clinical rotation: I was lucky enough to participate in the UW TRUST Scholar program, which sets you up which a longitudinal experience in a rural Washington community (my site was Chelan) throughout medical school. The six months I spent in Chelan during my third year was the highlight of my education thus far. I loved the variety and continuity. Seeing patients grow and change, seeing them start families, and seeing them take charge of their health made it easy to go to clinic and work hard every day.

What draws you to Family Medicine? After rotating through a variety of specialties and being drawn in by the intricacies of each, I realized that I didn’t want to limit myself to just one narrow focus. I wanted to take care of the whole person: their aches and pains in addition to their frustrations and neuroses. I can’t help but get caught up in the complexity of people and the joy of getting to know so many individuals so well. I know that Family Medicine will always keep me interested and know that I will be able to both laugh and cry with my patient’s throughout my career.

Anything else you want people to know about you? I am so excited to receive this scholarship. It has been wonderful to learn more about Dr. Burr Field’s life and to be inspired by the community and career he created. I was born and raised in Eastern Washington and I am so excited to return there after finishing my training. I have traveled throughout the US and feel satisfied knowing that Eastern Washington really is the promised land. In my free time, I love spending time with friends, singing folk songs mildly out of key, and exploring our beautiful state. My wife and I are excited to settle into a small community east of the mountains and hopefully grow some really good tomatoes.