Life has limitless possibilities but whether you take advantage of them all is up to you. After speaking with Haute MD expert Dr. Deborah Houk, it is clear that anything is possible. As an executive coach, board-certified internal medicine physician, and mother of four, Dr. Houk has proved that the skies the limit, especially when you work hard and stay committed. Here's how she does it all:
My greatest achievement:
My greatest personal achievement is my family. I’m married to an amazing man and am a mother of 4 wonderful children under 4 years old. I have a daughter who is 3, twin boys who are 1, and a newborn baby boy!
My greatest professional achievement is hard to choose. The top 3 include obtaining both my bachelor's and master's degrees from Stanford University in 4 years, being among the youngest in my medical class to graduate from medical school, and successfully finishing my internal medicine training at Yale.
What is the future of your field?
The future of medicine is definitely moving towards more personalized medicine treatments based on molecular, genetic, and specific cells and tissues involved. Research in these areas are booming, so I’m very excited to see what we figure out in the near future.
The biggest misconception about my field is...
One of the bigger misconceptions about medicine is that antibiotics are the answer for every cold and cough. The truth is that antibiotics are helpful for some colds and coughs, but only those caused by bacteria. Doctors are very careful when recommending antibiotics because most of the most common colds, coughs, and sore throats are caused by viruses (not bacteria) and therefore are not treatable with antibiotics. Overusing antibiotics has its own risks as well, making treating future bacterial infections more difficult.
What surgical advancements are you most excited about?
I’m excited to see the combination of robotics, telemedicine, and surgery with the advent of remote surgery. In the future, surgeons will be able to use robots to perform surgeries and do so from more remote locations. With this technology, access to surgical care would improve tremendously, as people living in underserved areas would be able to receive more advanced care.
What are you best known for?
Patients have come to appreciate my old-school bedside manner. When I see patients in the hospital, I take my time with them. I sit down and listen to their concerns rather than rush from patient to patient. Doing this, I am sure to treat the whole patient, not just the chief complaint that brought them into the hospital. I learn about the real issues impacting the patient's medical care, whether it be access to medications, social issues, or undiagnosed illnesses. My thorough nature, spending time with the patient, and obtaining corroborating information, helps me provide the best care for my patients.
What new services are you excited to offer?
I’m excited to offer individualized wellness coaching and mentorship services. For those who want to improve their overall health and well-being, I offer one-on-one coaching and mentorship. With my unique medical training, I combine knowledge of internal medicine with psychology, behavioral modifications, and life coaching in order to help people create healthier habits and live their best lives.
What is your most memorable patient reaction?
My most memorable patient reactions are those where the patient goes out of their way to express gratitude. Not every clinical outcome is positive. However, most of my patient and family reactions are positive despite that. This is because patients and families feel cared for when I’m their doctor.
What sets your practice apart?
My practice is set apart by the high standards of care that I impose upon myself. I make no excuses when it comes to caring for my patients. I trained at the best institutions in the world in order to bring my patients world-class care. My practice is evidence-based and I always have the goal to make my patients live longer and feel better.
What I love most about my profession:
I love the ability to make patients feel better. Most of what I do is making patients feel better. If you’re short of breath, my goal is to make you breathe easier through figuring out the underlying problem and treating it. If you’re coughing, the goal is to diagnose the cause and control the cough. If you have pain, we figure out what’s causing it and treat the pain appropriately.
