CPS Update
Meet the president
Even when she was in kindergarten, Kate McGovern knew she wanted to be a doctor. And by fourth grade, she’d already honed in on pediatrics as her chosen field. Maybe that’s not unusual, given that her father, Mark, is also a pediatrician.
“I loved ‘Take Your Daughter to Work Day,’” says McGovern. “I would round with Dad at the hospitals. I loved seeing the babies in the nurseries. I especially loved it when he would walk into a patient’s room and everyone would say, ‘Oh, Dr. McGovern, we’re so glad you’re here.’ I thought, ‘I want to do that someday.’”
The younger McGovern made good on her goal. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University, then earned her MD at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 2010. She completed her residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2013 and followed her father into private practice at Anderson Hills Pediatrics.
“I stepped into the position Dad vacated when he retired,” she says. “I inherited a lot of his patients. Many are second-generation. Their parents were Dad’s patients. It’s great continuity.”
McGovern is upholding family tradition in other ways, as well. She is the 2017 president of the Cincinnati Pediatric Society, a position her father held earlier in his career.
“I have great nostalgia for the CPS,” she says. “It was such an active organization when I was growing up. I want to see that continue and build on it.”
McGovern firmly believes in the importance of networking and socializing, especially when it comes to her colleagues. “In the days when community physicians rounded at the hospitals, there was more opportunity to connect and consult with each other. But now, for most of us, the hospitalists take care of the inpatient side. We’re all busy, but if you’re only talking to your partners in your practice, you’re missing out on other perspectives that could be helpful,” she says.
As CPS president, McGovern hopes to establish more of an online presence to build awareness of the organization and the benefits of belonging. She wants to add more social events and increase advocacy efforts. “It’s a challenging time to practice medicine, and we need each other,” she says.
She cites the mental health epidemic as an example. “The prevalence of depression and anxiety I see in young adults is staggering. I wasn’t prepared for it, and there’s a lot of learning on the fly.”
She also worries about medical coverage for her patients. “Many people have high-deductible plans. Parents ask if I realize how much a test costs. I have to think about that a lot more now,” she says.
Physicians helping each other out, sharing ideas and information, free CME events – that’s the value the CPS has to offer. McGovern hopes you’ll join her in making the organization even better than before.
Annual membership for physicians is $100 or $50 for emeritus members. An associate membership fee of $50 is offered to nurse practitioners or physicians assistants who specialize in pediatrics. To join, contact Stephanie Easley in Physician Services at Cincinnatipediatricsociety@cchmc.org or 513-803-6175.
