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Karen Higgins (third from left) with husband, John; mother, Patricia Martinson; and College of Medicine Dean James Armitage, M.D. |
Karen Higgins, M.D., challenges herself by volunteering to teach UNMC students and residents about caring for children.
“I thoroughly enjoy being able to help children,” said Dr. Higgins, who manages a busy pediatrics practice at the Grand Island Clinic Inc. “The work in primary care is never boring.”
Since 1990, Dr. Higgins, a clinical assistant professor at UNMC, has volunteered her time to teach medical students about pediatric practices. Making students and residents realize that treating a child is different than treating an adult provides Dr. Higgins a feeling of satisfaction for volunteering her time to teaching.
For her commitment to teaching students, she received the College of Medicine’s Volunteer Faculty of the Month Award for October 2002.
“Dr. Higgins always does more than expected and never asks for credit,” said Bruce Buehler, M.D., chairman of UNMC’s pediatrics department. “She teaches medical students and residents because she believes in education, although she receives no compensation.”
Dr. Higgins earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1974 and her medical degree from UNMC in 1977. After completing her residency in UNMC’s department of pediatrics in 1980, Dr. Higgins began and has continued working at the Grand Island Clinic, as a partner and a pediatrician.
As president of the Nebraska Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and an advocate of children, Dr. Higgins says students are the future of pediatrics in Nebraska and need to be taught to respect and appreciate the specialty of pediatrics.
Students say Dr. Higgins is very good at involving them in patient care and teaching the pertinent aspects of presenting the problem with a patient.
“The biggest lesson students take with them after participating in this program,” Dr. Higgins said, “is the importance of communication with patients, other doctors and nurses to acquire an accurate diagnosis of the patient.”
Dr. Higgins and her husband, John, an attorney, have three teen-age children: Christie, Jack and Suzanne.