“It sounds so corny, but it’s true; I came to Lakewood because of the people, and the family feel of the organization.” When she arrived at Lakewood Health System as a Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP) student in 2012, Dr. Kaitlyn Schoeck had no idea she’d be back to begin her medical practice here five years later. “It’s hard to beat a nine-month interview because you get to know the people, and the place, and everything in between.”
Originally from International Falls, Dr. Schoeck is one of three new doctors to begin their medical practice at Lakewood this year. After attending medical school at the University of Minnesota – Duluth, and completing her residency at St. John’s Hospital Family Medicine in Maplewood/St. Paul, she and her husband, Charlie, decided to move to the Baxter area where she would be a family practice physician at Lakewood.
Having met while living in Staples, the Schoecks moved back to the area so they could take advantage of all things “Minnesota.” “Our top priority when leaving the cities was to find a place on a lake so we could do the swimming, boating, kayaking and fishing we weren’t always able to do before. We love playing golf, camping and having bonfires, so everything about moving back to this area made sense.”
As a family practice physician, Dr. Schoeck enjoys practicing the full-spectrum of family medicine, which includes seeing patients in the clinic, hospital, emergency department, or labor and delivery. “I truly do enjoy everything within family practice, and seeing patients of all ages. I love the idea of creating life-long relationships with my patients, and being able to have conversations like, ‘Let’s talk about your diabetes’, or ‘It might be time to talk about going into the nursing home’, and things like that. It’s all part of that lifetime of care we get to provide, and I’m excited to be here to do that.”
“When you find that special place that makes you happy, and you enjoy going to work, and the people you work with, it doesn’t get any better. I knew Lakewood was that place for me, so when given the opportunity to come back here, I took it. I’m so happy to be at Lakewood, surrounded by wonderful partners, staff and patients!”
Dr. Schoeck sees patients at our Staples and Pillager clinics. To make an appointment with her, call 218-894-1515.