Jennifer Bergeron, M.D.
“I wanted to work at an academic center without having to live in a big city. I'm so happy to be in West Virginia where I get to try to give back to a small community just like the one that helped raise and support me.”
Why did you choose to become a doctor/researcher/expert in your field? Was there a specific “a-ha” kind of moment?
My dad was a self-trained engineer and on weekends we would do a project from this book "How Things Work- 100 Ways Parents and Kids Can Share the Secrets of Technology." As I grew up, I kept pursuing how things work, but (much to his chagrin) rather than wanting to take apart the washing machine, I wanted to know exactly how the human body works.
What in your educational experience and training stood out to you, and what advice would you share with students who are in that position now?
I was born and raised in Maine and went to a public high school where not many people went to college, never mind graduate schools, and therefore was discouraged from pursuing medicine. But my parents, who lived their lives doing what they loved, bought me a bookmark with the Eleanor Roosevelt quote: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" and that became our mantra as they, and my community, supported me through my journey in medicine.
What advice would you give to aspiring medical professionals?
Do what you love. My dad said this over and over again to my brother and I and we watched him live his life this way. Conventionally, nephrology isn't the most popular field, but I fell in love with the kidneys and I haven't regretted a single day (and dare I say I've enjoyed most of them!).
What have you grown to love about your profession?
I was born and raised in Maine (quite rural) and went to a public high school where not many people went to college and therefore was actually told not to pursue medicine. I was supported by a village of people who believed in me, and I ended up going to Tufts Medical School- Maine Track, which was focused on rural and community-based health. It was there, doing my longitudinal integrated clerkship up near the border of Canada that I realized that at the heart of medicine was taking good care of people. I was inspired by the many rural physicians who take on multiple roles to care for their community. Therefore, I'm so happy to be in West Virginia, back in a small community, where I get to try to give back to a small community just like the one that helped raise and support me.
Why did you choose your field? Does it have any special significance for West Virginia?
Nephrology is one of the fields in medicine that is more dedicated to physiology. Through medical school and residency, my nephrology attendings were consistently the ones who encouraged me to think through to the physiology, just as my father did. It has been the natural fit for me to embrace being a scientist and continue this quest for knowledge of how things work. Strong nephrologists are needed in West Virginia, as we have the one of the highest prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the country and unfortunately, the highest kidney disease mortality rate.
How would you describe your day-to-day to a class of middle schoolers?
I take care of people's kidneys, some days at regular doctors' appointments and other days in the hospital where people are very sick. I also see patients at dialysis units where we use a dialysis machine to do the job of the kidneys so they can live.
Why did you choose to come work for West Virginia University?
I wanted to work at an academic center without having to live in a big city. I'm so happy to be in West Virginia where I get to try to give back to a small community just like the one that helped raise and support me.
Every time I get to help a medical student through a case or see a patient understand what a kidney does for the first time, my heart sparks with joy.
Take good care of patients and mentor all the students I can.
Being asked to write for Kidney News and NephMadness when I'm still pretty new at this career was an honor and so exciting. I learned so much in both opportunities and hope that science writing will continue to be a part of my future!
Do you have a favorite memory that sticks with you throughout your career?
It's a collection of memories that always involves teaching, both of medical students and residents, as well as patients.
Enthusiastic. I think we are all so happy to be here supporting patients in their kidney disease, continuing to learn all we can about the kidneys, and teaching and mentoring the next generation of nephrologists.
How do you prioritize self-care and maintain a work-life balance in such a demanding profession?
Getting a hobby that I actually like. Wild right? I've always felt pressure to get back into running or something that has this second motive of "staying in shape", but then I never wanted to actually do it and it became another thing on the To-Do list. Finding a hobby that I actually look forward to and scheduling it 3x a week, has been a game changer.
I like learning about space exploration, astronomy and physics. I've visited many of the NASA centers and aerospace museums in this country and I've watched a rocket launch! I like to swim, do puzzles and try to garden (unsuccessfully).