Get to Know a BHC Doctor

Rebecca Kelley, MD

Family Practice, Boone Health Medical Group Primary Care Moberly

I was born in Richlands, Va. After graduating from Richlands High School in 1970, I attended Radford College (now University) and received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry. During this time, I also married and had a son. We moved to Columbia, Mo. when my husband’s job transferred him. I attended the University of Missouri to receive my Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. I became a medical technologist, supervised the immediate response lab, and welcomed a second son. In 1989, I started medical school at Mizzou and completed in 1994, then did my residency from 1994 to 1997 at the University’s Department of Family Medical. I then worked at a family healthcare clinic in Auxvasse for 24 years, before joining Boone Health Medical Group. I currently practice at the Moberly primary care clinic.

Why did you get into the health care field?

I simply wanted to make sick people feel better. I grew up in southwestern Virginia in the 1950s and 1960s, when the biggest fears were polio, tuberculosis and smallpox. We all had measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox as children. All we had available was aspirin – there was no Tylenol, Motrin or Aleve! There were few medications then to treat hypertension or diabetes, other than insulin. With a limited number of physicians where I grew up, people suffered without treatments, including my family members. As a child, I stood by, watching helplessly.

What interested you in your specialty?

I chose family medicine because I wanted to be able to treat all people from before birth until end of life. I worked in obstetrics until 2007, my oldest patient was 105 years old, and I’ve cared for people at every age in between! Family medicine also treats a multitude of medical problems. One exam room may hold a baby with an ear infection, the next room may hold an 85-year-old following up on hypertension, and the next may have a 45-year-old with an abscess. Family medicine offers a variety of ways to make a difference in a person’s life.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I find the relationships I make with my patients most rewarding. I have treated many families going back five generations – the children that I delivered now have children of their own! Not only do I know them medically, I know where they live, how they live, and their health and personal obstacles. I consider my patients to be like family.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

The most challenging aspect of my job is electronic medical records – I am a paper girl at heart!

What do you see changing in health care in the next 5 to 10 years?

Healthcare changes will focus on providing care more quickly and efficiently. Patients want care immediately and conveniently.

What advice would you give someone looking to become a doctor?

Being a doctor is not like what you see on TV. You need to work hard, learn as much as you can in medical school, then continue lifelong learning from continuing medical education and from your patients. The key is listening to your patients and caring for them as if they were your own grandparents, parents, or siblings.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy traveling and playing with my high-energy, very athletic Labrador retriever.

What advice would you give to someone who is going to be a patient in a hospital for a period of time?

I was that patient in 2019! I was admitted to Boone Hospital at the end of April and discharged in early June. Be patient – that’s the hardest part. Follow the advice of your physician and healthcare team, including your nurses, your physical and occupational therapists, and other professionals. Participate in your own recovery. Have a good support system and have someone be your champion during your stay.