 Alumni
Interviews:
Judy Kersten, M.D.
"I feel fortunate to have been mentored by
individuals who have made a significant impact on my career, and
I think it’s equally important for those of us who have been
mentored to do the same for younger faculty"
Judy Kersten (’92R Anesthesiology) has dedicated herself
to helping people—as an intensive care unit nurse and a highly
respected clinician and researcher in anesthesiology.
Kersten spent five years in nursing before realizing her true
interests lay in medicine. "I think my nursing background has given
me a more personal perspective on medicine," she said. "It
is important to view the patient as an individual who brings more
than just physiological needs to the operating room."
After earning her M.D. at the University of Wisconsin and completing
postgraduate work at the UI Carver College of Medicine, Kersten
joined the Medical College of Wisconsin and was promoted to full
professor in 2001.
"
I knew I was interested in cardiovascular medicine, but I found
that anesthesiology enabled me to meld a wide variety of interests
in pharmacology and cardiac and respiratory physiology with the
care of patients with cardiovascular disease."
Kersten has quickly become a respected researcher and clinician.
She serves on several editorial boards, reviews manuscripts for
Anesthesiology, Circulation and the American Journal of Physiology,
and recently was appointed chair of study section on myocardial
ischemia and metabolism. Her position faculty role allows Kersten
to provide patient care and still indulge two of her passions—research
and mentoring.
Her research focuses on mechanisms responsible for increasing
mortality and morbidity in individuals with diabetes. She examines
models
of myocardial ischemia, explores the effects of diabetes and hyperglycemia
on coronary circulation, and studies how volatile anesthetics produce
cardioprotective effects.
"
I am passionate about research," she said. "Through research,
you have the ability to impact many people’s lives, and that’s
part of what makes it so compelling for me."
Mentoring is another way to make a difference, and Kersten takes
this role seriously. "I feel fortunate to have been mentored
by individuals who have made a significant impact on my career," she
said, "and I think it’s equally important for those
of us who have been mentored to do the same for younger faculty."
Kersten believes in her responsibility to doctors-in-training
as well. "We need to foster an interest in academic medicine
among residents and medical students," she said. "The
future of medicine is dependent on attracting bright people into
our profession."
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