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.
Grant Clinkingbeard, MD, pediatrician with Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, joined our ministry this year 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’ve wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. Having family members that were physicians, I was able to see the positive impact that a good doctor can have on people in his or her community. In medical school, I felt that pediatrics was a good fit because I enjoyed the dichotomy of working with kids and parents. While a pediatrician can be goofy and playful with children, parents are often worried about their kids and rely on their doctors to be reassuring and serious. It’s a rewarding challenge to find the balance between these two roles.
2. Have there been any challenges you’ve faced and overcome in your career journey? Who has influenced you most in your career?
The transition from medical school to residency and from residency to practice were both challenging. I’m so thankful for my loving and supportive wife who has encouraged and uplifted me through both of those transitions. She has been a reassuring constant and the biggest cheerleader in my career.
3. What do you like most about being a doctor?
One thing I like about being a doctor is that I get to learn new things every day. Whether it’s learning about a new treatment of a disease or learning about a patient, I enjoy that my job allows me the chance to learn something new each and every day.
4. If you weren’t a doctor, what would you do?
If I weren’t a doctor, I would probably be a handyman. I love to fix things.
5. How do you ensure your patients feel heard during their visit?
I try my best to repeat how I am interpreting what patients are saying to be sure that I am understanding things correctly. Additionally, I ask if patients or parents have any questions at the end of every visit to be sure that nobody leaves something he/she wasn’t able to say or ask.
6. Why did you choose Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group for your practice?
I wanted to work for an organization that I knew and trusted. Growing up in Baton Rouge, I had many interactions with Our Lady of the Lake as a patient, family member and team member, and all of them were positive. I was also drawn to the opportunity to be a part of their growing network of providers in the Louisiana Northshore region.
7. What is something that people may be surprised to know about you? Is there anything else you would want to share in a profile about you and your career?
I love to fish and explore the outdoors whenever I can!
