From Major to Medicine: Katelyn MacDonald, Class of ’13

Raised in New Brunswick and homeschooled from kindergarten through grade 12, Katelyn had originally planned to study culinary arts. With some encouragement from her parents, however, she decided to go to Crandall for her first year of study.

Four years later, in the spring of 2013, Katelyn graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Biology – she enjoyed that first year so much, she couldn’t help but stay and complete her degree.

Katelyn’s time at Crandall also pointed her toward a new career path, and she went on to study medicine at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick in Saint John. After graduating in 2017, she completed her Family Medicine Residency in Fredericton, and then in June of 2019, she spent three months at BC Women’s Hospital in Vancouver, learning Enhanced Skills in Family Medicine Obstetrics through UBC.

After this, Katelyn returned to Fredericton to practice Family Medicine, and in January 2020, she opened her own practice with some other local physicians. Such a venture comes with its own challenges, of course, from learning how to run a business, to finding balance in life with a demanding career, but all of that was compounded when COVID-19 hit only two and a half months after they opened.

Operating a medical practice during a pandemic was definitely not covered during her training or education, but overnight everything changed. She was no longer able to see her patients in person, and she had to make decisions about their care without being able to see them, examine them, or even order basic tests.

“So many established physicians have told me they can’t imagine starting a practice in this situation, because they are struggling with it as long-practicing physicians,” Katelyn said. “I am so thankful I’ve had so many supportive colleagues around me, to answer my questions and just provide support in general.”

Despite the challenges of these past months, Katelyn has not lost sight of the most fulfilling part of her job, “being a support to people as they navigate the ups and downs of life.” She went on to explain, “Sometimes this involves helping a patient battle depression and come out on top. Other times this means supporting a patient through a terminal diagnosis and the final stages of life. So much of family medicine is not just finding a diagnosis and treating that diagnosis, but being a mainstay for patients as they go through the journey of life.”

Thinking back to her time at Crandall University, Katelyn recognizes the huge impact it had on her. She developed very close friendships that she still cherishes today. She appreciated the small cohort of students she studied with, becoming a very tight-knit group. Above all, Katelyn is grateful for the professors that challenged her and pushed her, both personally and academically: “They encouraged me to pursue my dreams and equipped me with the tools to achieve those dreams. While I can’t pick a particular instance, I have so many memories of sitting in Dr. Mel, Zhan (Dr. Yang), Dr. Coreen Bodner, and Dr. Humby’s offices discussing my plans, and each had a different perspective to offer, all of which helped me to make those plans a reality.”

Looking to the future, Katelyn hopes to continue supporting her patients and to make a positive impact in their lives. She is also working with her colleagues to establish a family medicine obstetrics group in Fredericton and start delivering her patients’ babies: “It is something very special to be able to help bring a person into the world and follow them through their life and in some cases even Katelyn MacDonald help bring their eventual graduated with her BSc babies into the world.” in 2013, and is now a family physician in Fredericton, NB.

Katelyn MacDonald graduated with her BSc in 2013, and is now a family physician in Fredericton, NB.