Dr. Kathryn Tweedy describes herself as “easy to talk to.” She’s pleased that her patients often tell her about what's going in their lives, even if it has nothing to do with ob/gyn. Her ability to listen, with compassion, makes all the difference. “Knowing that your doctor really hears you is just as important to patients as the medical care they receive," she says.
Dr. Tweedy majored in English literature, and still reads "everything." As an M.D., it's no surprise where she finds her inspiration: "Every patient has a story that tells me who they are, how they see the world, and what kind of health care they need," she says. "I'm inspired by those stories every day."
She decided to become an ob/gyn during a college mission trip to the Dominican Republic. "That's when I saw a birth for the first time," she says, "and I thought, 'Wow!' " She did triage for a team of doctors, nurses, and dentists, listening to patients tell their stories in Spanish. "It was great and awful at the same time," she says. "People walked barefoot all the way from Haiti to get medical care in our little mountain town in the Dominican Republic. So many people were lined up, and there was no way we could see them all."
Dr. Tweedy plans to do more volunteer work overseas, next time with her husband, Dr. Matthew Boente, a gynecological oncologist. Today they often share patients.
"Just this morning I did annual exams on two patients, cancer survivors, who had their surgery done by my husband," she says. "I love the variety of my job—every day is unpredictable. But I also love the continuity. I've got moms whose daughters now come to see me. I love seeing families; it's really fun."
As the busy stepmother of four, Dr. Tweedy says she's focused, organized, and an expert multi-tasker. "My husband calls me the CFO because I’m the one who always knows where the checkbook is," she says with a laugh. "I'm in two book clubs, I like to run, and I like to cook—Italian comfort food like Osso Buco and Risotto Milanese.
Dr. Tweedy also loves to travel with her family, “especially now that our kids can appreciate museums!” she says. She likes to chat with patients about their travels, and recent trips to Greece, Spain, and the U.K. have given her plenty of stories to share.
Working at Southdale Ob/Gyn is great, she says, because "we're all on the same page. When I'm not on call, I just don't worry. I know that if one of my patients has a problem on my day off, any one of my partners will take care of her just like I would."