Former Siena Swimming & Diving student athlete Kate Ackert '16 has stayed busy since her graduation four years ago. Ackert recently completed medical school, and received recognition for her work in a medical residency as part of her studies. 

Ackert is making a difference in her community and being recognized for her work as a Resident Physician in Obstetrics & Gynecologic Surgery at St. Luke's University in Pennsylvania.

She was awarded The Soul of Medicine award by the Pennsylvania Physicians for Social Responsibility earlier this year which is given to a 4th year medical student who emulates the values of the Soul of Medicine: cares for his or her patients with respect, compassion, understanding and integrity; treats those around the patients, including family members, fellow students, staff and faculty with respect, understanding and appreciation; and is a compassionate caregiver.

Dr. Ackert is leading and embracing the approach of "narrative medicine," which uses stories about clinical practice, research and patients experiences as a way to promote healing. She got her start while a first-year medical student in Philadelphia at a live event sponsored by The Moth Radio Hour, a public radio show that features stories of personal experiences. "Storytelling is so integral to medicine, we are always piecing together a narrative, and each illness can have several chapters." says Dr. Ackert.

"From the moment I stepped foot onto Siena's campus as a high school student on my first college tour I knew that it was the place for me to grow as both a student and as a person. My professors encouraged creative thinking, cultivated my sense of curiosity, and helped me combine my passions for both the sciences and the arts. I was able to expand my view of the world with classes and service trips to South Africa, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Florida, the Galapagos Islands, and the Dominican Republic. As a resident physician in Obstetrics & Gynecology these days, I have carried these lessons with me and they help me be both an innovative surgeon and a compassionate doctor to the many populations and communities I serve."

Ackert spent two seasons (2012-14) as part of the Siena Swimming & Diving Program as a diver.