Health - Folks

Rachel Safran

– Josh Smith photo.

Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Place of Residence: Spokane
Occupation: Medical Student, University of Washington

As a University of Washington fourth year medical student based in Spokane, Rachel Safran has been involved in every step of patient care, from admission to discharge, witnessing dozens of surgeries and births.

She spent her first year of medical school here and was impressed by how the faculty and staff helped students find connections in the community. "Whether it was fly fishing, skiing, a religious organization, or organic gardening, they helped find community physicians with similar interests for us to meet," she says. "Phenomenal medical training is available in many of the regional sites, but in Spokane I felt like part of the community as well."

Now in her fourth year, Safran has primarily been performing her clinical duties at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital, but also has had rotations at Deaconess Hospital and Holy Family Hospital.

"I felt that Spokane offered the best balance of academic rigor and community training. I wanted to do my clinicals in a place where I not only see the full scope of common and rare diseases, but actually be involved in the care of my patients," Safran says.

"Spokane has a wealth of health care providers eager to teach, who encourage and expect students to be engaged at every step."

Safran, who earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and Spanish from the Tacoma-based University of Puget Sound, hopes eventually to have a residency in internal or family medicine to gain broad experience in primary care. "I plan to stay in the Pacific Northwest and hope to work with underserved populations in the correctional system as well as community health clinics," she says.

Safran enjoys visiting Manito Park, especially when the lilacs are in bloom, and attending the Sunday outdoor concerts at Arbor Crest Winery.

"I love that I can receive training at nationally renowned medical centers during the day, but in a mere 20 minutes, I can be at some of the best hiking trails and scenic lakes the region has to offer," she says.