As an endurance athlete and emergency medicine physician Dr. Michelle McDade knows well about going the extra mile.
Her colleagues at The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC) say she goes above and beyond for every patient, every time. She is generous with her clinical expertise and possessing of a unique gift: the ability to connect and communicate with patients patients and their families members during stressful times in their lives.
Case in point: when a patient arrived at the HOCC Emengecy Department under very difficult circumstances and passed away, Dr. McDade stayed in close contact with the patient’s husband to ensure that he and other family members were well cared for and supported as they dealt with their sudden loss and the subsequent grief.
Dr. McDade knows that when one family member is sick, others may be suffering too. She always considers the whole picture. Once, she was treating a young woman who was having difficulty breathing after surgery. The patient’s mother was at the bedside, crying and praying. While treating the patient, Dr. McDade allowed the mother to remain in the room so she could be assured that her daughter was getting the care she needed.
After graduating from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree and teaching degree, Dr. McDade earned her medical degree from Oregon Health and Science University and completed her residency at the University of Connecticut. Currently, she is the medical director of the New Britain Emergency Medical Services Academy, where she mentors and instructs paramedic students. When not working or teaching, Dr. McDade is an avid endurance athlete, completing two half-ironman races, four marathons and countless shorter races.