Whether it’s in her clinic office or on social media, Rachel Kelly likes to infuse health with humor.
As a physician assistant in pediatrics at UnityPoint Health–Meriter in Madison, Rachel has seen firsthand the power that a joke or a silly question can have in helping kids — and their parents — relax and better participate in their health care.
Rachel shares more about her work and the importance of a good laugh.
Please tell us about your path to working in health care.
I’ve always been a science nerd, and my mom naturally taught me to care for others. She ran an in-home daycare while I grew up in Oconomowoc. My experiences helping her care for kids inspired my desire to work with children. In college I decided to pursue the PA career when I learned my “doctor” growing up was actually a PA. What cooler way to fuel my love of science and learning how the body works, and blend it with a love for working with little humans?
I moved to Madison when I started my undergraduate education at UW-Madison. I completed my physician assistant training at Midwestern University in Illinois but moved right back to Madison when I graduated. I love it here!
What do you like most about your work?
I love making kids laugh. I feel I’ve done half my job if I’ve made patients’ time at the clinic somewhat enjoyable.
How and why do you infuse humor into your work?
I have a white board in each patient room featuring a weekly joke, and a conversation starter question. Waiting in patient rooms is boring, and I really strive to be on time for visits. For the times I’m a bit behind or patients arrive early, I hope the boards provide a little entertainment for families while they wait. They also help me open up conversation when I come into the room.
What impact does humor have on patients, and what role can or should it play in healthcare?
I find I get the most engagement from kids and families when I get some laughs going. A lot of kids are shy, nervous or even bored at the clinic, so it’s a goal of mine to make patients feel comfortable and to open up! The jokes help, and so do little tricks like intentionally mixing up siblings’ names, listening for a child’s heart on their knee or asking where their third ear is. I like to encourage patients of all ages to be good advocates for their own health — ask questions if they don’t understand a diagnosis and speak up if they want to consider a different treatment option. I find humor is the most universal way to put people at ease.
Your Instagram is full of awesome jokes for kids! Do you have a few favorites?
My favorite jokes I’ve shared are:
What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?
Nacho cheese.
How do you make an octopus laugh?
With ten-tickles.
How do you throw a party in space?
You planet.
How does a scientist freshen her breath?
With experi-mints.
What are some of the most common questions you get or challenges you see with your patients?
Sleep issues are probably the most common concern across all ages. Picky eating may tie or come in a close second. Both issues have pretty different recommendations depending on the age of the child or teen though!
Really open-ended question here, but how has the pandemic affected your work?
Oh boy, where to start! For one, we definitely saw a decline in families scheduling well child visits and immunizations, particularly in the first few months of the pandemic. I still am seeing a few patients for the first time again since the pandemic started though! Falling behind on immunizations is concerning for personal protection against the illnesses we vaccinate for, and for herd immunity against certain diseases in the community. Falling behind on routine well visits is concerning because some pieces of health education have been missed. Habitsare hard to break once they are established, so missing out on counseling about creating healthy habits can be detrimental. I am seeing more mental health concerns through the pandemic, and more behavioral problems, as well as more children at unhealthy weights. Keeping up with the ever-evolving knowledge and guidelines regarding the COVID-19 virus is also quite a burden.
I understand preventative care is important to you. Could you tell us more about that?
I love the opportunity to help shape kids to become healthier adults. I was astounded when I learned while in PA school that one in six of children and teens were obese. That number is now one in five. Obesity is associated with joint problems, heart disease, diabetes and mental health disorders. We are also learning more and more about the detriments to health of processed foods, poor sleep and of too much screen time. Knowing how challenging it is to change lifestyle habits as an adult, I am passionate about helping families learn about healthy living early on.
What are some of the best preventative steps kids can take to stay healthy?
There’s a great obesity prevention program that was started at Maine Medical Center called 5210 Let’s Go! The program endorses five servings of fruits and veggies daily, two hours or less of recreational screen time, one hour of physical activity and zero sugary beverages. This is a great start. We also know that sleep is highly tied to healthy weight, as well as emotional health and mental energy. I find it is simplest to talk to families about the 5210 plan, plus give advice about adequate and regular sleep.
What do you wish or want for all of your patients?
I wish all my patients had the same opportunities for a healthy, happy life. I have appreciated learning more and more about racial equity with the events in society over the last couple years. I witness firsthand some of the struggles individual families face and do my best to connect patients to specialists and resources in the community that can help.
What are you most looking forward to in the new year? What’s next for you?
My patient panel has slowly been growing over time, and I honestly look forward to becoming busier and busier! I especially am excited to work with more newborns and gain more experience using my lactation counselor training, though I work with patients all the way into young adulthood.
– Katie Vaughn
Katie Vaughn is the editor and co-founder of Northerly. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University-trained journalist with experience as a writer, reporter, editor, blogger and author. She lives in Madison with her husband, daughter and son, and is always up for an adventure.