Celebrating International Women’s Day & National Doctors’ Day with Amwell Clinical Leadership

While each provider’s journey is uniquely their own, all doctors demonstrate strong qualities that make them an exceptional fit to care for the health of others. Some of these qualities include the willingness to be a patient advocate, strong collaborative skills, and empathy toward others. As a community, we’ve witnessed the role of providers drastically change in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and roles are continually evolving and shifting to meet the ever-changing healthcare landscape and needs of today’s patient population. ?

At Amwell, we are extremely grateful to all of the resilient doctors that continue to mold themselves, their approach, and their philosophies to fit the needs of today’s environment, all while providing exceptional care to our network of patients across the world. This National Doctors’ Day, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the incredible providers. ?

In 1991, President George H.W. Bush proclaimed National Doctors’ Day to honor the nation’s physicians for their dedication and leadership. For this awareness holiday (and every day in between) be sure you thank your doctor for their continued service to your health and wellbeing. With National Doctors’ Day also falling within the same month as International Women’s Day (which is also Women’s History Month), we are honored to spotlight a handful of female providers that we’re proud to have on our team.???

Take a look below to hear directly from them on what inspired them to become a doctor, the advice they have for others to break into this role in medicine, and what it means to be a female doctor in today’s world.?

Carrie Nelson, MD , MD, MS, FAAFP – Chief Medical Officer?

I became a doctor because I knew I liked science. Medicine especially intrigued me because I saw it as an opportunity to peer into a world that would be fascinating to see up close. While the scientific aspects of medicine were what drew me, it’s the human aspects that have kept me. In talking with those entering the field, I tell them I am optimistic about the future. Despite the current state of burnout and overall healthcare system dysfunction, we are learning faster than ever, and the future is bright with new tools that will enable us to better attend to the human aspects and be more reliable in the delivery of a better life for both those we serve and those who serve.?

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Mia Finkelston , MD – Medical Director Amwell Medical Group?

I wanted to become a DR because I saw first-hand how passionate my mother was about caring for people. She was an Endocrinologist and it wasn’t simply the medical care she provided, but how these patients became part of her life, whether sad and tough to manage or happy and a joy to help keep them on track. She was so keen on preventative medicine and she lived by staying fit and social. Though I chose Family Medicine as a career, I emphasize preventative medicine any chance I get.? If you enjoy talking with, helping, and being available for people when they need you, Family medicine is a wonderful way to have a fulfilling career. I also love taking care of all ages, it's wonderful to see a child for a visit and be able to answer questions from the parents about their own health. It feels calming to know I can do this.?

As for being a female in Family Medicine, what better way to understand what being a mother is about?! It also allows me to teach, whether in a classroom or as coach a team on the field, the skills are there!? I never paused to think, can I do this as a female/woman?? Never! I knew I could do anything I put my mind to, and I found support from peers and mentors when I needed it.?

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Cynthia Horner, M.D. FAAFP – Medical Director Amwell Medical Group?

Although the practice of medicine has evolved dramatically in the last 100 years, the art of medicine is still, at its core, the art of healing human suffering one person at a time. Good doctoring involves entering into a sacred trust with our patients, one in which we fully commit to listening carefully, caring deeply, and leveraging fully all the tools at our disposal to advance their health. It’s intensely rewarding and exhausting at times. Over 25 years as a physician I have found that our understanding of the human body is constantly evolving, so balancing open-mindedness with attention to evidence-based care is crucial, as is staying closely connected with physician colleagues and friends who share this passion for healing.?

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If you’re interested in becoming a provider at Amwell, visit: https://providers.amwell.com/ to learn more.??