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: Nancy R.G. Church, MD, an ob-gyn with Wellness Connections in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
AMA member since: 1986.
What inspired me to pursue a career in medicine: I was brought up in a medical care family—my father was a physician and my mother a nurse. The family philosophy was: “Wherever you go in life and whatever you do, leave that place in a better condition than it was when you arrived.”
How I move medicine: I am dedicated to the education and treatment of my patients and to partner with them to achieve the highest level of a healthy life. I lead them by my life example.
Career highlights: I have had the opportunity to be appointed or elected to many leadership positions. I am only the third female elected to the governing council of the AMA’s Organized Medical Staff Section in its near century-old history. I am the co-founder of the reorganized American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) Chicago branch.
I am honored to have represented AMWA in the AMA House of Delegates. I was recently appointed to the Physician Wellness Committee of Advocate Christ Medical Center. I have been a leader and a pioneer in my hospital in promoting and establishing state-of-the-art enhanced recovery after surgery, i.e., a focus on reducing opioid usage.
Advice I’d give to those interested in pursuing a career in medicine: If you desire to give back to the universe and to increase the wellness and improvement of the human race on this planet—please join me! Step forward, become engaged, become a member, speak out, and lead others forward to move medicine!
Aspect of my work that means the most: My work is multi-faceted: Helping to bring my patients to a healthy interaction with their lives; and, on the other side, to make sure that medicine can be practiced in the best way possible to empower the medical field to be all it can be.
How I advocate for physicians and patients: I am proactive every day in my medical practice and in my interaction with the structure of medicine. My mantra is: If I step off into the unknown, I might lose my footing; but if I do NOT step off into the unknown, I will lose myself!
My hope for the future of medicine: My hope is that we can all acknowledge the greatness in others and that we can all work to increase the greatness of my beloved profession.
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.
