Lily McKoy-Drake, DO, MPH

 My first year of medical school, I often asked myself which organ system I found most interesting and which age group I felt most drawn to serving (my answer seemed frustratingly constant: all of them!). It wasn’t until my second year that I realized my attraction to Family Medicine is less about the type of medicine practiced, but the way it is practiced. The philosophy deeply resonates with its more encompassing approach of preventing disease, treating the whole person from birth to death, the continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient settings, the focus on underserved populations and a history of advocacy and community engagement. But more than anything, I love the way Family Medicine prioritizes relationships: building partnership and honoring patient autonomy through shared decision-making rooted in quality communication. My future dream is to use these skills (along with my MPH degree and my previous work experience in health policy research and advocacy) and practice full-spectrum Family Medicine in an FQHC for underserved communities. My medical interests include chronic disease management, addiction medicine, women’s health and obstetrics, osteopathic manipulative treatment, and community medicine. I am passionate about health equity and social justice and look forward to using my research skills and understanding of healthcare policy to help improve the clinical care, health system coordination, and better advocate for my future patients. I am excited to further develop these skills through the incredible training opportunities that the University of New Mexico will offer me. And on top of that, my husband and I are thrilled to explore the beautiful Southwest!