Every day, our doctors go above and beyond to help our communities heal. On March 30, we celebrate Doctors’ Day, expressing our appreciation to those who care for us and guide us to maintain a healthy lifestyle all year.
Nicholas George, MD, pediatric and internal medicine physician with Our Lady of Lourdes Health, has been part of our ministry for eight months and shared his thoughts on being a doctor.
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine/healthcare? Why did you choose your specialty?
I chose to pursue a career in medicine during college. I worked as a college ministry intern and found a passion for helping others, but always was drawn to science and biology. Becoming a physician seemed to be a calling to make these interests mesh. While in medical school, I enjoyed the primary care aspect of things, talking with patients and helping them to understand their healthcare needs. I honestly thought I would have gone into only internal medicine until I fell in love with pediatrics. As I struggled to decide between internal medicine and pediatrics, I worked with several resident physicians that were Med/Peds training. I discovered that I could train for both. I made the decision to pursue Med/Peds to take care of entire families, being able to provide comprehensive primary care for a person from the time they are born until they grow old.
2. Who has influenced you most in your career?
My parents are a great influence on me, teaching me the value of hard work and gratitude. I also was able to learn from several faculty during residency in Shreveport how to care for complex patients and to do so with empathy and understanding.
3. What do you like most about being a doctor?
I truly enjoy getting to know patients and helping them to navigate their illnesses to hopefully prevent them having long-term health issues.
4. If you weren’t a doctor, what would you do?
I could have seen myself going into something like engineering, although my family has told me I could have made a heck of a lawyer!
5. Why did you choose Our Lady of Lourdes Physician Group?
I chose Our Lady of Lourdes Physician Group because of the opportunity to work in a faith-based organization that was looking to move into areas of increased need. The Group is very open to working with me as a Med/Peds physician and learning what my specialty has to offer rural areas for primary care.
6. How do you ensure your patients feel heard during their visit?
I try to make an effort while I am interacting with patients to be engaged with the conversation. In a modern world with electronic medical records, I feel that it is still important to step away from the computer screen and hear what my patients are saying. This makes a clinical visit more personal and, hopefully, builds a level of mutual trust that patients can appreciate.
7. What is something that people may be surprised to know about you?
I am an avid duck hunter and fisherman, and have won several clay shooting tournaments over the years. Other fun facts: I am happily married to my high school sweetheart, Whitney. We have two beautiful children and our faithful dog at home. I enjoy cooking, spending time with the family and any vacations involving beaches or hiking.
8. Is there anything else you would want to share in a profile about you and your career?
I look forward to helping provide the community with quality primary care for patients of all ages. Specifically, I want to focus on providing care for pediatric patients with chronic illness who are transitioning into the adult medicine world and to ease the gap of pediatric patients transitioning into the adult side of healthcare.
