Family Physician of the Month

Kevin F. Dieter, M.D., C.M.D.

1. Where did you go to medical school? Where was your residency?
I went to Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM), Rootstown, Ohio, for medical school. I completed my residency at Aultman Hospital, Canton, Ohio.

2. Please describe your current (and past) practice setting/patient population - (i.e. rural, urban office setting; geriatrics, sports medicine, academic medicine, etc.)
I began a solo practice in Waynesburg, Ohio, in 1988 after leaving residency. Waynesburg is a rural community near Canton. The practice expanded to three physicians by 1997, at which time we joined Aultman Family Medicine Residency Program as clinical faculty, with the office serving as one of several satellite training sites. I began a gradual re-focusing of my practice to academics at that time, and completed several academic fellowships through NEOUCOM.

After several years of continuing office practice and teaching, I transitioned again to become the medical director of Aultman Transitional Care Unit, which is a 60-bed skilled nursing unit. At about the same time, I began to focus much of my clinical time to developing a palliative care program at Aultman Hospital, which grew from my passion for hospice care and end-of-life issues. I had become medical director of the Aultman Hospital Hospice Program in 1991. I became board certified in hospice and palliative medicine in 1999, and re-certified in 2007. Currently, I continue to care for patients in the skilled nursing facility, direct the growth of the hospice and palliative care program (a 11-bed, inpatient palliative care unit opening in August 2008 and a 12-bed, free-standing hospice/grief center opening next fall), and teach medical students and residents.

3. Why did you choose family medicine? Was there a particular event/person that helped you decide to enter family medicine?
I chose family medicine primarily because of the focus on family and longitudinal care, as well as seeing it as a threshold to multiple other practice possibilities.

4. While working, what is the best part of your day? Why?
I enjoy anytime during the day when I feel that I have actually “attended to” a patient and/or family and have been able to feel that they know that they were truly listened to. In addition, I am a strong supporter of working with interdisciplinary teams and enjoy the camaraderie and clinical effectiveness of a team approach to care.

5. What is the most difficult part of your day? Why? How do you deal with it?
The most difficult times are the challenges of dealing with the system logistics and politics that hamper provision of patient-centered, effective healthcare.

6. What do you think is the most important personality trait that a family physician can possess? Why?
I think that a family physician needs to be able to deal with uncertainty, has to learn to communicate effectively, can be a strong advocate for patients and families, and must certainly be willing to be innovative in helping to shape the changing role of the family physician.

7. What do you think patients value the most in their physician? Why?
I think patients value honesty, availability and open-mindedness.

8. What have you learned from your patients?
Mostly, my patients have taught me humility. They keep you brutally honest about your own humanness. Also, they have showed me how complex, frustrating and more often amazing life can be.

9. What can medical students do right now (other than study) to make themselves become more ready to become family physicians in the future?
Read the literature about the Future of Family Medicine, find a good mentor(s) and begin to explore their passions in medicine.

10. What other advice do you have for students who are interested in family medicine? And, for those who are not sure yet?
I would tell them to keep an open mind.

Kevin F. Dieter, M.D., C.M.D.

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