GETTING TO KNOW A BHC DOCTOR
Michael Szewczyk, MD, FACEP Boone Hospital Center Occupational Medicine
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aving grown up in Chicago, my wife and I moved to Columbia so she could complete a residency in Dermatology. I worked at Boone in the Emergency Department and became board certified in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine. Recognizing that Columbia was an ideal place to live, we raised our three great children here, all born at Boone Hospital.
Why did you get into the health care field? I’ve always seen medicine as a noble profession that allowed me to do what I love — work closely with others, figure out what the problem is, and provide the best care. That drew me to work in the emergency department and to become involved with employee health. Growing up, I had good role models, including a loving and supportive mom who had six children. Three of us became physicians and also married physicians. At times, Thanksgiving seems like a medical conference. What interested you in your particular specialty? In the 1980s, while doing my internal medicine residency, I moonlighted in emergency departments. Emergency medicine was just developing as a specialty and I loved it. You never knew what problem you’d see next and you took care of patients of all ages. While working as an emergency physician at Boone, I became their employee health physician, a role that I still hold. In 1999, seeing the need for occupational medicine services in Columbia, in partnership with Boone Hospital, Occupational Medicine of Mid Missouri was opened. It became so busy that it turned in to a full-time job. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? You can’t find anything more rewarding than helping take care of others, some in severe crisis. While I’m no longer in the emergency department, I continue to help employees stay healthy and fit. I love it when someone I don’t recognize tells me that years ago, I helped them out. The ultimate compliment is when a patient tells me I “saved” their life. While I know it was a team effort, it certainly is rewarding. What is the most challenging aspect of your job? Practicing medicine has become more difficult with well meaning but excessive oversight and regulators stepping into the relationship between doctors and patients. What do you see changing in health care in the next five to 10 years? I believe we are on the cusp of a new era in medicine with the development of biologic and immune modulator medicines. During the COVID-19 pandemic we heard about
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BOONE HEALTH
Winter 2022
messenger RNA vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, but did you know that, in some cases, antibodies can treat migraine headaches. Former President Jimmy Carter had melanoma cancer in the brain, a fatal disease. With these new medications, he was cured. What advice would you give someone looking to become a doctor? Think about why you want to become a physician and make sure it is what you want. Work or volunteer in health care and research projects while in high school and college. These experiences will help confirm your choice and set you apart from other candidates. Have a physician review your application and personal essay. And finally, don’t give up. If you’re not accepted the first time — regroup and reapply. It can take a few years to get in. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? I enjoy doing things around the house, from yard work to remodeling, along with fishing and turkey hunting. I also enjoy community activities. As a member of a number of boards, including my homeowner’s association and the Boone Board of Health, I’ve been able to work on larger projects that bring real improvement to our community. What advice do you have for someone who is going to be a patient in the hospital? Plan ahead and have someone lined up to be your health care advocate and liaison with your caregivers. If possible, pick a friend or a family member who has a medical background or is in a health care field.
