Michelle McDade

Write a Comment

Age: 39

Title: Emergency Medicine Physician

Company: The Hospital of Central Connecticut

Location: New Britain

Hometown: Farmington

College: University of Oregon. Oregon Health and Sciences University

Bio

Dr. Michelle McDade graduated from the University of Oregon with both a bachelor's degree and a teaching degree. She then graduated with her medical degree from Oregon Health and Sciences University and completed her residency at The University of Connecticut. As an emergency medicine physician, McDade is passionate about melding current, cutting-edge care with a patient-centered focus. She started her career early as chief resident receiving the Senior Leadership Award, the Distinguished Senior Award, and the Resident Teaching Award. Over the past several years, she has expanded her focus more towards teaching. She is the medical director for New Britain EMS Academy, where she teaches and mentors paramedic students. In 2014 and 2015, McDade was the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching in Emergency Medicine Award from the UConn internal medicine residents.

McDade has been the recipient of several distinguished awards including Physician of the Year in 2008 and The Physician Humanitarian Award in 2014.

When not working, McDade is an avid endurance athlete, completing two half-ironman races, four marathons and countless shorter races. She is married and has two daughters.

Q&A

Who gave you your best career advice? My best career advice came from my college academic advisor. I remember deciding to go to medical school, and I went to see her for advice. After reviewing my freshman year report card (wholly reflective of someone having more fun than they should) she told me it was unlikely I would make it to medical school and should focus on a more realistic goal. My grades were improving significantly as I adjusted to college life, but she told me it was too late. I left that meeting completely disheartened. I couldn't accept that one less-than-stellar year would forever change my life. That feeling did not last long, and soon that sadness changed to anger and that anger to determination.

How will you change the world? One patient at a time. I have the unique opportunity to connect with people during the most stressful times of their lives. This connection is a gift and a privilege that I work hard to meet with caring and humanity. I have saved the lives of someone's husband, someone's daughter, someone's child, and the emotional rewards are vast and humbling. Every person whose life I have touched has made me a better, more grounded person.

If you could only have five stamps in your life passport, what would they be? Complete the Ironman; qualify for Boston Marathon; run a race requiring a passport; raise two amazing kids; travel to all 50 states