Kathryn Demitruk, MD

About Kathryn L. Demitruk, MD, MAS

A diagnosis of a heart murmur prevented Kathryn (Katy) L. Demitruk, MD, MAS, from pursuing her original goal, which was to become a Marine. This didn’t change her desire to serve and care for others, however. “Combining this passion with my enjoyment of math, science and problem-solving, a career in medicine seemed to be the perfect fit,” she says.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from the Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Her doctorate was earned from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Saint Kitts, West Indies. She completed her family medicine residency at Southern Illinois University Center for Family Medicine, Blessing Hospital, Quincy, IL. In addition, she has a Master of Advanced Study in Health Informatics from Arizona State University, Phoenix and her Clinical Informatics Fellowship was completed at University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix. Clinical informatics is the intersection of information systems, information science, workflow processes, leadership and management in healthcare.

As a hospitalist, Dr. Demitruk’s job is to take care of patients admitted to the hospital. “In my role as a clinical informaticist I am the voice between the patients, physicians, nurses, the IT department, and the health system. I utilize data in the electronic health record system to enhance patient care, streamline care delivery, and optimize workflows,” she says.

Dr. Demitruk does not have a specific philosophy in her approach to medicine, but does adhere to several guiding principles she’s picked up through the years. “Trust and respect from patients must be earned, not assumed. Our responsibility is to keep patients informed, explaining the what, why, and how of their treatment,” she says. “Under promising and overdelivering is better than the reverse,” she adds.

Through the years, she has learned that while she can’t walk a day in someone’s shoes, she can join her patients on their journey for a brief time and show them compassion along the way.

“Showing compassion for others goes a long way in making the world a better place,” she says.

In her own words…

Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life?  My grandfather, a Marine and the hardest working man I know.

What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it?  At the age of 13, I worked at an Italian restaurant where I made salads and desserts and I almost cut the tip of my finger off.

What is your favorite food? Movie?  Favorite food: Spaghetti    Favorite movie: Stay (from 2005)

What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up?  Best: math    Worst: spelling

If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why?  Robin Williams, because he was an absolutely brilliant comedian.

In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about?  Traveling, exploring new things, snowboarding, houseplants, ceramics, painting, scuba diving.

What is something most people don’t know about you?  I was section leader of the Izzone for men's basketball while in college at Michigan State.