ENT provider Malorie VanWinkle, PA-Cis an expert on dizziness, balance and vertigo. Her priority: Help improve patients’ quality of life. And she’s passionate about patient education: “It’s a crucial part of recovery and overall wellness.”
Appointments: (507) 646-1494
First job? I was a medical assistant at a pediatric clinic. Doing the hands-on tasks like cleaning and drawing up vaccines gave me a good perspective on all the roles in healthcare. I learned respect for nurses and all the staff who play a role in caring for patients.
Free time? I love to cook, bake, and find new coffee shops and bakeries. And travel! I went to Australia and New Zealand after finishing Physician Assistant school. The food was great, and the culture was wonderful, so friendly and trusting. At home, I enjoy hanging out with my husband and our cat.
Best part of your work? Connecting with patients, both kids and adults. I’m a good listener, and a good educator. I want patients to know what’s going on, and what their options are before they leave the clinic.
Best advice? “It takes as much energy to worry as it does to believe.” My best friend’s mom gave me that advice when I was in high school. It’s been helping me a lot now, too.
Why healthcare? I worked in foodservice and retail growing up, but when I became a medical assistant, I felt a spark. I just loved it. I loved working with babies, and I loved learning. A natural curiosity came out. We all need curiosity, compassion and something driving us in any profession. Healthcare is the field that clicked for me.
If not healthcare, what would you be doing? I’d be on The Food Network. My signature dish is risotto, and I can make a mean batch of cookies, too. I like the creativity of cooking and I love the rigor of baking, when something comes out perfectly. It’s like the balance in healthcare: Science, and heart.
Or I’d be a conservation biologist, trying to save animals in Africa.