National Doctor’s Day

Spotlight on Karen Ganacias, MD, KIDS’ Mobile Medical Clinic/Ronald McDonald Care Mobile (KMMC/RMCM) Community Pediatrics and Child Advocacy Fellow

We are celebrating National Doctor’s Day by spotlighting Karen Ganacias, MD, a dedicated physician who always goes the extra mile to meet the needs of her colleagues, students, and patients.

Karen mainly provides comprehensive primary care to KMMC/RMCM families, but her duties also extend to inpatient services in the newborn nursery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH), teaching Pediatric residents and medical students, and leading special projects to improve healthcare access for families.

These projects include:

  • An active role with Safe Babies Safe Moms – an initiative to close the gap on maternal and fetal outcomes for vulnerable populations.
  • Leading the collaboration with DC American Academy of Pediatrics (funded by national AAP) to develop improved process for closed-loop WIC referrals and patient education.
  • Presenting an abstract on this work titled Knowledge, attitudes, and referring practices to WIC in Washington, D.C. at the prestigious Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2022 meeting.

The relationship I got to build with this family, and extra comprehensive services through our team at the Kids Medical Mobile Clinic/Rondal McDonald Care Mobile, made me feel like we were giving more than just traditional medical care.

- Karen Ganacias, MD

Q: What story would you like to share about your time on the KMMC/RMCM?

A: I met this family after they moved to D.C. for one of their children who was chronically ill after an organ transplant to receive specialized care at Georgetown Medical Center. The mother unexpectedly became pregnant and had a daughter during this ‘temporary’ stay in the D.C area.  They were a kind, loving family, but were obviously stressed with the transition, being far away from family, and now having multiple children while living in a temporary space.

The relationship I got to build with this family, and extra comprehensive services through our team at the Kids Medical Mobile Clinic/Rondal McDonald Care Mobile, made me feel like we were giving more than just traditional medical care.

We were treating the whole family, all their social needs, and providing not just the medical care but the emotional support that they needed to.

It’s the close relationships we build with families like this one, and the services we aim to provide that make working on the van worthwhile.

Q: What’s your favorite part of working on the KMMC/RMCM?

A: The relationships we get to build with the families.  There is something to be said about being in the community.  When people can see that you are making an effort to be closer to their community and that you genuinely want their input and feedback, they appreciate that. And I think they begin to trust you and the program more when they know you are willing to meet them where they are at.  It’s the trust, the rapport, and the built relationships we have with families that we care for that make me want to come to work each day.

Q: Anything you want to share about yourself?

A: The team at MGUH Kids Medical Mobile Clinic is one of the hardest working, caring teams I’ve been a part of.  It takes multiple people working collaboratively to get anything accomplished, and the team here at MGUH has been so supportive of all their staff.  So, they should really be highlighted.

Also, I really love Disney.

 

Thank you to Karen Ganacias, her team on the KMMC/RMCM, and to all the pediatric doctors out there making a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve!