Finding Her Own Path: SRV Alumna Dr. Katy Doroshow on Curiosity, Compassion, and a Career in Medicine

Can you tell us a little about your journey after graduating from SRV? What led you to medicine?

My mom was the librarian at Rose Valley back in the day, and I started when I was two. I went to Rose Valley through fourth grade and then left for fifth. It was actually a really seamless transition. I went to the public school in the neighborhood where we lived, and even though it was definitely a shift in terms of educational style, I don’t remember really noticing it or feeling jarred by it. I made friends, had fun, and had a great experience.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Rose Valley was a literal animal playground for me. Looking back now, part of what moved me toward becoming a physician—and eventually an OB-GYN—was that we learned about life cycles and reproduction without even realizing it. Seeing guinea pigs have babies was just part of a normal day. I remember looking for crayfish under rocks in the creek, Bamboo Island…all of those experiences were really imprinted on me.

Even going into college at the University of Vermont, I thought I might become a veterinarian. Somewhere along the way, though, I decided I wanted to do human medicine. My educational journey has always been a little nontraditional, and I think I had the confidence to do that because of my foundation at The School in Rose Valley.

I never majored in biology or chemistry. I took all the prerequisites because I knew where I wanted to end up, but I studied psychology because I loved it. That basically sums up my whole experience. I’ve always had a clear idea of what I wanted to do, but I haven’t always gone about it in the linear, step-by-step way.

Your path to medicine wasn’t exactly traditional. Can you tell us more about that journey?

When I finished college, I knew I wanted to go into medicine, but I didn’t know exactly what that looked like. I wondered if I wanted to be a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, or a physician. I was also really interested in complementary and alternative medicine because I’ve always believed there’s more to medicine than just what we traditionally learn in the U.S.

I stayed in Vermont and worked as a medical assistant in a primary care practice while I did some reflecting and soul-searching. I applied to both MD and DO schools and had planned to do HIV/AIDS volunteer work in Thailand while I waited to hear back. Then September 11th happened. I hadn’t left yet, and I decided not to go. Instead, I ended up driving across the country with friends who were moving to Portland. Along the way, we decided to go to Hawaii instead. We went with backpacks and whatever money we had. We camped until we found a place to live, pulling phone numbers off bulletin boards at grocery stores. I ended up staying for two years.

I taught myself how to surf, which honestly changed my life. Surfing became this grounding thing for me—what I imagine music is for people who play music. I also worked with a physician who had trained in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine after becoming disillusioned with Western healthcare. It was a very holistic practice, and that experience really confirmed that osteopathic medicine was the direction I wanted to go.

I actually withdrew my medical school applications so I could stay longer. Looking back now, with three kids and a career, I realize that was probably one of the only times in my life I could have done something like that. When I reapplied, I only applied to osteopathic schools because by then I knew that whole-person philosophy was the right fit for me.

When did you know obstetrics and gynecology was where you were meant to be?

I actually thought I was going to go into family medicine. Then my first OB-GYN rotation in medical school totally clicked. I remember thinking, Oh…this is exactly what I’ve been looking for. It has some surgery and procedures, but it also has continuity. You follow people throughout their lives.

One of the things I love most is being with people during some of their most vulnerable moments. Those moments can be really hard, but they’re also some of the most meaningful. Being able to help patients through those times brings such a sense of connection. You’re not just patching something up and moving on. You really get to know people. Now I’m even starting to see patients’ daughters, which is kind of amazing.

What do you find most meaningful about your work today?

In a really messed-up healthcare system, it gets harder to practice the kind of medicine that feels meaningful to me. If I can’t take care of people the way I believe they deserve to be cared for, I don’t think I could continue doing this work. I’m slow. I take my time. I talk. I love talking to people. I laugh all day. Sometimes I cry. It’s such a wonderful experience.

One of the highest compliments I’ve ever received was from the husband of someone I delivered years ago. He looked at me afterward and said, “You’re very self-actualized.” I actually had to go home and look up exactly what that meant. But what it meant to me was that I really am doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. That’s one of the things that means the most to me in my career—when patients feel that way, because that’s exactly how I feel too. It really is my calling.

When you think about your years at SRV, what memories have stayed with you?

I can still remember the smell of the woodshop with “Big Mike”.

Every time we come back for Candle Making or May Fair and I see him, those memories come flooding back. I still have some of the things I made there. One experience I think genuinely influenced my interest in medicine happened in fourth grade when someone brought in a dead cat and we ended up dissecting it.

I remember being completely fascinated. I still remember thinking, “Oh…that’s the gallbladder.” I honestly think that experience had a significant impact on my interest in veterinary medicine—and eventually human medicine.

I also remember deciding together as a class what we wanted to study. One year we chose Japan. It wasn’t something assigned to us. We made the decision together, and because we all had buy-in, everyone was interested. I really think that’s the best way to learn.

Do you see your SRV education influencing the way you approach medicine today?

Absolutely. One of the biggest things I learned—without even realizing I was learning it—was community, respect for different ways of doing things, and approaching people with curiosity instead of judgment. That’s how I approach medicine. People choose things that maybe I wouldn’t choose myself, but that doesn’t make them right or wrong. My job is to support people and understand that everyone has different reasons for making the decisions they do. I try to approach parenting the same way. That openness and curiosity has stayed with me my whole life.

How did SRV prepare you for more traditional schools—and eventually medical school?

I think Rose Valley taught me that you can learn in a less structured way and still succeed in a very traditional environment. It gave me confidence that education isn’t just about memorizing facts. It’s about understanding concepts and making connections. That foundation really allowed me to succeed later on. I think I could have taken that confidence into whatever I ultimately set my mind to, whatever my passion ended up being.

What are you excited about in this next chapter of your career?

One thing I’d really love to work on is improving postpartum care. Structurally, we do a terrible job in this country taking care of people after they have babies. I’m also interested in political advocacy and international volunteer work. Healthcare has become incredibly challenging, and trying to balance the business of medicine with actually practicing medicine in the way I believe in has never been harder. But I still love going to work every day. I really feel like I’ve taken this winding path and ended up exactly where I’m supposed to be. Even when it’s hard, it’s such a gift to be able to do work that feels like your calling.

What advice would you give today’s SRV students?

Stay curious.

One of the greatest things The School in Rose Valley gave me was the confidence to take a winding path. I’ve always known where I wanted to end up, but I didn’t always know exactly how I was going to get there. I think SRV teaches you that there isn’t just one right way to learn or one right way to reach your goals.

You can carve your own path—and no woodshop pun intended—but you really can create a life that feels right for you while helping other people along the way.