Resident Spotlight: Dr. Ashley Marie Kellam, Department of Family Medicine

Dr. Kellam feels fortunate to be doing what she loves. From training for the upcoming Boston Marathon to pursuing her passion for palliative care, she is grateful for the outstanding faculty she works alongside and the ongoing inspiration from her patients.

Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Amherstburg and after moving away for a few years during medical school, I was excited to be able to come back home for residency.

What degrees do you have, and from what universities?
I obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree from the University of Windsor, majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in psychology. Through the Outstanding Scholars Program, I was able to get involved in research early on in my university career. After graduating, I went to McMaster University for medical school. I graduated from the Niagara Regional Campus, one of two satellite sites at McMaster.

What special interests or hobbies do you have?
One of my hobbies is running. During my undergrad, I competed as a Windsor Lancer on the cross country and track and field teams for four years.

In my first year of medical school, I finished my CIS eligibility as a Marauder at McMaster. In second year at McMaster, I decided to get into marathons and was fortunate enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2013. I have since fallen in love with the race and with the city of Boston and will be competing in my fourth consecutive Boston Marathon this April. I also love travelling and was fortunate to use some time before starting residency to travel to Europe with a few friends from medical school, and to Australia to visit my boyfriend who was in school there at the time.

Why did you choose to pursue your residency at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry?
One of the main reasons I chose residency at Schulich Medicine was to be back home to train in the community where I grew up. Windsor Essex has provided me with so much to get me to where I am today and I was very excited to come home and give back. It’s definitely where I hope to stay and work. The support and camaraderie between fellow residents and faculty has been outstanding. I can’t imagine being anywhere else for my residency.

What inspires you in your work?
What inspires me in my work is the people I work with, including the patients and their families. Everyone has been so open and receptive to learners; always willing to share their stories and for that I am truly grateful. The faculty and my fellow residents are always eager to teach and learn. Windsor really has such a strong medical community and I am excited to be part of it.

Like any training program and any career, there will be good days mixed with some not so good days. On the not so good ones I’m reminded of a palliative patient I met early on in medical school. In his last few days, he told me the most important thing he wanted to leave behind was to “be like the person you most want to meet.” I try to make every day a good one and learn something from every patient encounter.

What has been your greatest experience to date in your residency?
My greatest experience so far in residency has been my time spent in palliative care. As much as I love family medicine, I found a new passion for learning and medicine while rotating through palliative care. The faculty members have been outstanding and always so eager to teach. These rotations and horizontal electives have shaped my career path and led me to a fellowship spot in palliative care next year at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. The teams I worked with and the patients and families I met along the way confirmed that I want to incorporate palliative care into my career and I look forward to contributing to the strong Palliative Care Service we have in Windsor Essex.

What do you do when you're not working?
When I’m not working or studying, I enjoy spending time running, practising yoga and being with family and friends. After moving back to the area, it’s been really fun discovering some of the hidden gems that Windsor and Essex County has to offer. I definitely feel fortunate to be home doing what I love.