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Pediatrician Dr. Karen Smith has joined the Wilson Care, Inc., team. Dr. Smith comes to Wilson from a successful practice in pediatrics based in Lima, although she has been a resident of Sidney for four years. Through her enduring faith and persistent focus, she is now exactly where she wants and needs to be. “My faith opened the door for me to live in a small town, and now to practice in Sidney,” she said. Her journey to our area has been a winding one, yet has given her much experience in her chosen career.
Dr. Smith grew up just outside of Detroit. After high school and attaining an undergraduate degree in biology and German from Albion College in Michigan, she received her medical degree from the Michigan State University School of Medicine, East Lansing. Dr. Smith then joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, where she completed her residency. Dr. Smith was transferred to Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina, on active duty for four years serving as a pediatrician. In 2004 she returned to Ohio and continued to practice pediatric medicine in Lima.
“This is an exciting opportunity for me since I will not only be much closer to my family, but will also be able to grow my career in the small town that I love,” she said. She will also be able to treat some of the children whose parents she often sits next to at local sporting events. In fact, it was at such an event that Dr. Smith was talking, with the woman seated next to her, about photography and their children when she also mentioned that she is a pediatrician, working out of a Lima office. The woman happened to be a neighbor of another Sidney doctor and through her association with Wilson Care, Inc., offered the information to the director.
The timing was right since a need for more pediatricians was recently identified for our service area, and Dr. Smith was able to join the Wilson Care team of doctors. “This has been an answer to my prayers,” said Dr. Smith. “Wilson is very advanced in technology and I was pleased to discover that the EMR (electronic medical record) system is being implemented in the Wilson Care physician offices, which is an advantage for doctors and patients, adding quality and convenience of care.”
Dr. Smith’s medical practice philosophy is simply driven by what is best for the patient. “If a child is sick, I want to see him or her that day,” said Dr. Smith. Her open access system allows the time needed for unexpected situations and same-day service even though an appointment is required. If a child is sick, and the parent calls in that day before a specific time, she will work the patient into her schedule. “It’s important to me to take care of your child today,” she explained. She accomplishes this by only scheduling her patients within a one week time frame. If parents want her as a pediatrician for their children but have no urgent need, her office personnel will either set up a well-child visit or interview, or enter data about the child into their system before a need arises. “Everything is explained to the parents on the first visit and once my patients get used to this system, they adapt quickly and appreciate the way we operate,” she said.
Dr. Smith’s practice includes general pediatrics for newborns and children up to the age of 18. Depending on the diagnosis, she may work in cooperation with a network of specialists. If a child is diagnosed with a chronic disease, complex disorder, or has multiple handicaps, she will manage his or her case and work with specialists as needed.
“Coming from a large city and its challenges, I love the small town life Sidney offers and so does my husband who grew up in a small town in Illinois,” Dr. Smith explained. She and her family live just outside of Sidney on a farm and recently started a garden co-op, sharing organically grown vegetables with her friends and canning and freezing as much as possible. Her husband, Doug, restores antique airplanes. They have three sons: Callum, 7, Keagan, 5, and Colton, 2. Dr. Smith loves spending quality family time with her husband and sons, and also enjoys sewing, reading and fishing.
For more information, call 937-498-5477.
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