I was born and raised in Southern Indiana in a home that placed a strong emphasis on service and community. I always saw myself becoming a physician, but it was during my undergraduate studies at the University of Louisville that I was introduced to public health. I spent the following two years in Norway pursuing a graduate degree in this field through a Rotary Global Grant, during which I began to realize the vital connection between medicine and public health. This was further emphasized during my subsequent year of AmeriCorps service, through which I saw real-life examples of physicians simultaneously engaged in both fields.
I returned to my home state to attend Indiana University School of Medicine, where I pursued opportunities to combine my interests through work with our student-run free clinic, rotations with county and state health departments, and global health experience in Kenya. Family Medicine always felt like the right fit for me due to its emphasis on longitudinal and broad-spectrum care. I believe that family physicians are uniquely equipped to serve as leaders and advocates due to their position in and direct contact with the community.
I am thrilled to continue my training in both Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine at MedStar Franklin Square and Johns Hopkins. The uniqueness of the combined program was the initial draw for me, but the warmth and engagement I experienced during the interview process convinced me that it was the ideal fit. I look forward to further exploring the social determinants of health and health disparities while receiving training that prioritizes both individual and population-level care.
My clinical interests include women’s health, preventive care, behavioral health, and care for underserved and marginalized populations locally and abroad. In my free time, I enjoy listening to podcasts, travelling with my spouse, cooking, and spending time outside hiking and backpacking.
Adaline Heitz, MD, MSPH