Match Day Q&A: Andrea Fjelstul-Bonert

What made you decide you wanted to be a doctor? 

When I was in fourth grade, my dad fell off the top of his semi-trailer. He was a semi-truck driver. He sustained some pretty significant injuries, and seeing him navigate the health care system coming from a rural community—whether that be trying to find a good primary doctor to coordinate things or traveling an hour away to see specialists—really inspired me to want to practice rural family medicine. My dad is doing well today, and I'm so happy to say that. But, of course, seeing him go through what he's gone through has definitely impacted me. 

I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for my husband, Danny, and both of our families.  Going through undergrad and med school as a first-generation college student wasn’t easy. They have pushed me to be the best that I can be and have always believed in me to become a physician. I feel so lucky to have had their support on this long journey. 

What drew you to family medicine as a specialty? 

I came into medical school feeling pretty confident I would want to go into primary care. Going through my core rotations, I really liked everything. I really loved obstetrics and gynecology and then after that, I had my pediatrics rotation. I felt conflicted, because I loved both. Then, I had the awesome opportunity to go do my family medicine rotation back in my home community. I love that Carver lets us do that. I got to take care of a mom at her last prenatal appointment, and I actually got to deliver the baby a few days later, and then a couple of days after that, see the baby for his first newborn appointment. That solidified it for me. Because of that experience, I got to see the breadth of family medicine, and I saw that I could do all the things I love within one specialty. 

I hope to go back to my community and help close the care gaps I first noticed when my dad was navigating the health care system and take care of the community that helped shape me into who I am today. I desire to take care of entire families from birth to end-of-life care. I think that’s something really special about being a rural family doc. 

What was the first time you helped deliver a baby like?

Being able to take care of women throughout pregnancy and delivery is such an honor and a privilege. The first time that I got to help deliver a baby was just incredible. I don't think words can really describe how you feel in that moment. You're the first person to get to touch this baby—this human—who you're helping bring into the world, and it's just such an incredible feeling. I feel so lucky that I'll be able to keep doing that in my future career. 

I got to work on some really cool projects throughout my time in medical school. Something that was really important to me throughout medical school, and will be as I continue throughout my career, is promoting primary care and telling people how awesome it is. One of the projects that I got to work on during medical school was promoting the Medical Education Community Orientation (MECO) program and creating a “mini” version of it with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). We worked with the family medicine department to create Early Clinical Exposure in Primary Care, a program to be held over the winter break of the M1 year, where M1 students can spend time at family medicine residency sites across the state. This allows students to get early exposure to primary care and to practice what they’ve learned so far as M1s. Two years ago, we piloted that program, and we had a great turnout. I'm really excited that we're inspiring more students to go into primary care.  

Why did you choose to be part of the Service Distinction Track? 

Volunteering in different aspects has always been really important to me. I started out in medical school volunteering at the Upstream Clinic, which provides resources for food insecurity and transportation insecurity to patients who are pregnant at the high-risk obstetrics clinic. I loved volunteering there. Then, as I completed more core rotations, I started also volunteering at the Free Medical Clinic, providing obstetrical care and postpartum care to patients, many of whom are new refugees or immigrants to the United States. 

Part of being in the Service Distinction Track is volunteering throughout medical school. That was something I was already doing, and I wanted to be able to turn it into a project that truly made a difference in the lives of the people I was helping at the clinic. In volunteering at the Free Medical Clinic, my mentor and I saw a need in patients who have gestational diabetes who are from some of the refugee populations we help take care of, specifically Sudanese and Congolese patients. We were having a very difficult time educating them on gestational diabetes, which can have harmful effects on both the baby and the mother if uncontrolled. There are cultural barriers around understanding what the typical Sudanese and Congolese diets are, a big misunderstanding in how to check blood sugars, and even what gestational diabetes means. For my project, I worked with Dr. Alka Walter [MBBS, MS] on a handout to provide to these patients that really simplifies what gestational diabetes is, with a chart on how to check blood sugars. Then we did some research on the typical Sudanese and Congolese diets so that we could provide better, more personalized recommendations on ways to control their blood sugar.

What excites you most about residency? 

Being able to practice medicine is such an honor and a privilege. I'm really excited to continue to learn and to continue to make an impact on patients as I learn to become the best doctor that I can be. 

Where do you hope to see yourself in five years? 

In five years, I hope to be providing full-scope family medicine, hopefully in my home community, from birth to end-of-life care, to entire families. I have special interests in women's health, obstetrics, and pediatrics. I hope to be a provider who listens well, who empathizes with my patients, who is kind and cares deeply for others, who works hard, and who provides good quality care regardless of demographics or socioeconomic status. I hope to be a provider who establishes trust with my patients, ensuring they know I will support them, no matter what they are going through. As a future family physician, I am excited to be able to give back to those who have helped shape me into who I am today, especially to those in rural and underserved areas, such as where I was raised and where I call home. 

How do you feel about Match Day? 

I’m a little nervous, but mostly just excited!