In continuing its participation in a

rural integrated medical training program, the Libby Clinic is

hosting third-year medical student Eve Preus.

Preus rolled up her sleeves to begin

work last week at the clinic a few days after arriving in town. She

spent the week navigating her way around and learning names of her

colleagues.

An advantage to training in a

five-month program versus taking the more common route of six-week

hospital rotations is continuity, she said.

“So just getting to know one set of

doctors and one set of hospice staff, one OR (operating room) –

it’s more comfortable for me and I don’t spend so much time

figuring out the system,” Preus said. “I can spend a lot more time

learning about my patients and participating in their care.”

In addition, she’s trying Libby on to

see if she would enjoy practicing medicine in a small town.

Preus left home in Silverdale, Wash.,

to study geology and anthropology on the East Coast during her

undergrad years. She then returned to the Seattle area and worked

at an environmental chemistry company focused on mercury detection

before enrolling in the University of Washington School of

Medicine.

Through her different volunteer

endeavors, she gained a special interest in working abroad to help

increase the standard of health care for women.

“In the developing world there are a

lot of women who just don’t have access to health care and are not

seen as equal citizens,” Preus said, “so I think that those go

hand-in-hand.”