I grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and first began to consider medicine in high school, inspired by the examples of my grandfather and a pediatric allergist who cared for me in childhood. I completed undergraduate studies at Wheaton College in Illinois, where I studied Chemistry. My decision to pursue medicine was solidified through a study abroad internship in Uganda and clinical volunteering experiences in the U.S., both of which confirmed that medicine was an area of intersection between my passion for social justice and my intellectual curiosity. In the year before medical school, I worked as a medical scribe for a family medicine and obstetrics physician at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Memphis, Tennessee. While there, I was introduced to the breadth of family medicine and its capacity for whole-person care and meaningful relationships with patients.
I attended medical school at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where I continued to explore global health interests and became involved in the Family Medicine Interest Group. In my fourth year, I had the opportunity to rotate at MedStar Franklin Square, where I was amazed by the kindness of each person I met, the deep care for patients I witnessed, and the strength of the teaching. My interests within family medicine include global health, obstetrics and women’s health, infectious diseases and HIV care, lifestyle medicine, end-of-life care, and care for underserved populations.
In my free time, I often spend time outdoors, hiking in Shenandoah with family or running in local parks. I enjoy reading novels, cooking dinner with friends, and sharing conversation over a cup of tea.
Claire E. Smeltzer, MD