The AMA “Members Move Medicine” series profiles a wide variety of doctors, offering a glimpse into the passions of women and men navigating new courses in American medicine.
On the move with: Kevin Connolly King, MD, who is an emergency physician in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Dr. King is also immediate past chair of the AMA International Medical Graduates Section Governing Council.
AMA member since: 2008.
What inspired me to pursue a career in medicine: I was not sure which career to choose when I was younger, but was potentially interested in working in medicine. I am not from a medical family, so I started volunteering in hospitals when I was 14 years old and after five years of volunteering, I knew that this was the profession I wanted to pursue. I have always wanted to make a difference and medicine allows me to do this.
How I move medicine: By supporting others to be successful and provide the best care for their patients. As an educator and trainer, my career focus—in addition to caring for people—is to train medical students and residents and other trainees to realize their skills as medical professionals and provide the best care that they can for those whom we serve.
Career highlights: The most notable accomplishment for me is the opportunity that I have had to build and revitalize residency training programs. As an emergency medicine physician, I will take care of about 200,000 to 300,000 people in my career. I think that this is wonderful, but through the residents that I have trained, over 20 million people will be helped. I am sincerely thankful that I have been able to make this much of a difference in the lives of others.
Advice I’d give to those interested in pursuing a career in medicine: If you are passionate about caring for people, then this is a potential career for you. If you have the opportunity, just like I did, it is worth it to volunteer and experience the environment to see if this is what you want to do for the rest of your professional career. As with any vocation, this is a commitment and it can be very satisfying.
How I give back to the community: By helping support the provision of care to others who are in need. Whether it is personal time and donating skills or providing financial or material support, patients and physicians can all make a difference.
Aspect of my work that means the most: I enjoy all aspects of the work that I do. If I can help someone have more quality time where they are as healthy as possible and able to spend time with their family and do the things that they want to do in life, then I have been successful.
My hope for the future of medicine: That we are successful in providing the highest quality of care to our patients and are able to navigate the financial and other hurdles that are on the horizon as we struggle to find a way to care for the aging population in our country.
Visit MembershipMovesMedicine.com to learn more about other AMA members who are relentlessly moving medicine through advocacy, education, patient care and practice innovation, and join or renew today.
