Second year rural family medicine residents, Dr. Isha Chaudhary and Dr. Brittany Elliott, have begun their rural training in Pittsburg.
The rural family medicine residency at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is a collaboration between the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in Kansas City, Kansas, and CHC/SEK. Through the residency, they learn and train in different environments that will provide the best of two worlds; urban and rural.
Year one residents are based at the KU academic medical center in Kansas City, Kansas. The curriculum provides experience in an academic institution and urban environment, providing a solid foundation in preparation for the transition to the rural training in year two and three.
The primary residency site for rural training is at CHC/SEK. All of the resources needed for this underserved rural community will be found under one roof along with the Residency Continuity Clinic. Residents will also train at Pittsburg’s Ascension Via Christi Hospital to learn care of the acute patient in a rural setting.
Dr. Isha Chaudhary
Dr. Isha Chaudhary was born and raised in Mississauga, a city just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Ever since she was a child, Dr. Chaudhary aimed to help the people around her. However, it was not until high school, where she volunteered in a senior home and at the hospital, that she realized she wanted to become a doctor. After completing her Bachelor of Sciences at the University of Toronto-Mississauga, she then went on to complete medical school at the Saba University School of Medicine and had the opportunity to complete clinical rotations at various hospitals across the country. She was ultimately drawn to family medicine due to the opportunity for extensive patient interaction. She also enjoys the variety of techniques and skills that this residency has to offer and is looking forward to expanding her skillset during her training here in Pittsburg, Kansas. In her free time, Dr. Chaudhary enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants/local cuisines, listening to music and playing badminton.
Dr. Brittany Elliott
Dr. Brittany Elliott was born and raised in a rural community in Northern Ontario, Canada. Naturally, she was laced up into figure skates and gliding across the ice before she had learned how to walk. This ultimately became a competitive career for her, until the time came to choose between her two dreams, figure skating and becoming a physician. Her journey to becoming a physician started during her undergraduate studies in Honors Neurobiology at Brock University in Canada. She found herself captivated by the field, so she furthered her knowledge by pursuing a Master of Science degree in Neurophysiology at the University of Toronto.
Her path eventually led her to the little island of Saba to complete her Medical Doctorate at Saba University School of Medicine. One experience she will never forget was having to endure two category 5 hurricanes, which devastated the small community on the island. This gave Dr. Elliott, along with a group of fellow medical students, the opportunity to work together with the locals to help restore the island to its former splendor. She notes that her time in medical school was one of the most challenging, yet humbling experiences of her life. She hopes that these past experiences will continue to help shape her into a well-rounded and dedicated physician.
