Eliminating the noise: Christy Atkinson, MD, approaches medicine with transparency in mind
Christy Atkinson, MD, knows she started her career in medicine at a time when distrust in medicine is high. That gives her extra incentive to help her patients at M Health Fairview Clinic – River Falls with treatment plans tailored just for them.
"I was attracted to family medicine because it's just such a beautiful opportunity to meet people where they're at and care for them in the context of their own lives,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson joined the growing clinic in River Falls to help address community health and equity. Her views reflect the M Health Fairview commitment to creating culturally appropriate treatment plans and understanding social determinants of health, which are factors that can often have a larger impact on health than medications or health behaviors. Examples include access to transportation, economic stability, or immigration status.
Atkinson completed her residency at M Health Fairview Clinic – Smiley's in Minneapolis, a clinic known for its diverse patient population. She brings her same open-minded approach to family medicine in River Falls, Wisconsin. Atkinson takes the time to get to know each patient she sees to understand their unique history and concerns, recognizing the historical harms medicine has perpetrated. She recognizes some people come into the health care setting wary of gaslighting, racism, homophobia, or weight bias. She takes a proactive approach helping patients acknowledge and heal from these experiences.
Atkinson went into medicine motivated by a desire to help people. She wants people in her community to get the care they need and deserve. For her, delivering great care starts by listening to her patients and taking their concerns seriously and letting them know that she believes them. It’s important to Atkinson that her patients understand the pros and cons of their different care options, so they can choose the one that will work best for them.
She does her best to be open with her patients. She’s happy to share her own reasons for getting vaccinated, for example, or what she would recommend to her own family member if they had the same concern as her patient. Atkinson also invites questions about treatments her patients may have heard of online or from a friend.
A big sister in medicine.
Atkinson, the oldest of three children, grew up supporting her younger siblings and their friends in a non-judgmental way.
“River Falls was perfect because University of Wisconsin - River Falls is across the street from us,” Atkinson said. “I have a sister in college, and I care so much about that age range. They went through COVID-19 in middle and high school or college. They have unique healthcare needs as a result.”
Atkinson focuses on areas of medicine that are especially important when caring for teen and young adult patients. She helps patients with mental health concerns, reproductive care, gender care, and substance use or addiction. She also takes a weight-neutral approach to healthcare when working with patients of all ages.
“I don’t focus on the number on the scale, but rather people-specific health factors,” Atkinson said. “Then I work with the individual to make a sustainable treatment plan.”
M Health Fairview allows patients to request that their weight not be discussed unless medically necessary. We also encourage our patients to ask questions and collaborate in their care.
