INTERVIEW WITH CATRINA N. LUCA, MD

What are the most important qualities for a doctor to have?

Integrity, humility, and a great sense of humor. As physicians, our days can be filled with heavy topics, intense emotions, and major decisions – and most often not for ourselves. We frequently bear the weight of other people’s lives and because we do, integrity (consistency of character), humility (being honest about what we do and don’t know and what we are able or not able to do), and a great sense of humor (being able to laugh at ourselves and with our patients) are important qualities for us to have.

“Doctorpedia is giving physicians the opportunity and the platform to create a legacy of knowledge and excellence in health care by equipping patients with accurate and accessible information directly from those who provide excellent care. Once that knowledge is captured – whether in video, audio, or print – it has the potential to outlive the physician who created that content.”

What is the most important factor in the doctor/patient relationship and why?

Trust. Our patients need to be able to trust that their physician is there for them, working with them, and have the same goals in mind. They also need to be able to trust that we are well-read, knowledgeable, and that we have their best interests in the forefront of our care.

What is your favorite activity outside of work?

Family time, which usually entails cooking and/or baking of some sort. I have an unpredictably hilarious group of humans that I get to do life with and it has been my pleasure (most days) to be part of my tribe as a maternal leader and caregiver. My husband and I believe rearing our children to be one of the most important things we can do during our lifetime and part of that means modeling for them what a healthy marriage looks like.

You recently joined the Doctorpedia team as a Founding Medical Partner and Chief Brand Officer. What about Doctorpedia resonates with your personal and professional mission?

Legacy is EVERYTHING. Doctorpedia is giving physicians the opportunity and the platform to create a legacy of knowledge and excellence in health care by equipping patients with accurate and accessible information directly from those who provide excellent care. Once that knowledge is captured – whether in video, audio, or print – it has the potential to outlive the physician who created that content. Not only will the clinical information be preserved but also the nuanced “practice of medicine” that each of us is known for. Every one of us has a special way we interact with patients or teach our areas of expertise that is uniquely a mix of our training, personal experiences, personality, and natural giftings. Personally and professionally I’m at the age and stage of life where I want to make sure that the wealth of experiences and wisdom I have gained from living life, practicing medicine, and making my share of mistakes (not to mention the thousands of hours spent on education and continued learning) are passed on to serve as a springboard for the generations coming behind me. Developmental theorist Erik Erikson labeled this stage of life “generativity” – the desire to leave your mark on the world by caring for others and accomplishing things that leave the world better than when you found it; a sort of “other-centeredness”. Cliché but true and very important for a sense of progress and well-being as we age.

What do you think about the health and wellness information and resources available online?

The internet has been a sort of wild, wild west in the health and wellness sector. I believe things can be done better. Anyone and everyone has been able to share their anecdotes, experiences, and opinions without much oversight. This means our patients are potentially accessing less-than-stellar and less-than-accurate information. It’s past time to bring order to the current chaos by providing reliable, tangible, and accountable information in a way that our patients can understand and resonate with. As patients become more involved in their healthcare, they need the tools to make genuinely informed decisions and I believe Doctorpedia is poised to become THE resource that patients will prefer.

“It’s past time to bring order to the current chaos by providing reliable, tangible, and accountable information in a way that our patients can understand and resonate with.”

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a doctor?

I would be a stay-at-home wife/mom with a housekeeper. I need someone to keep the house clean – that is just not one of my strengths – but I will say I am good at cleaning a kitchen! I would spend my days cooking and baking, feeding my family, hanging out with them, working out and reading books. This would probably last about a month! At which point I would be looking for something to get into, something new to learn and master, a business to start, or a new project to embark on. I love just about all things related to nutrition, wellness, as well as emotional and spiritual growth so it would probably be something that allows me to feed people mind, body, and spirit.

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