Cushing, Oklahoma is a small community where the biggest attractions are the Buckhorn Bar, purple sunsets, and the platter sized chicken fried steak at the local Steer Inn restaurant. The thought of leaving the Big Apple to complete my Rural Family Medicine rotation in this tiny town was not exactly appealing to me on initial inspection. My family has deep roots in the community, however, and for that reason I chose to complete my rotation at the Cushing Regional Hospital. During my four weeks spent in the town I cared for ICU patients, completed well-child evaluations, performed circumcisions, and provided obstetric care. I learned more about the practice of medicine during that month than during any other clinical elective in medical school. However, more than the methods of medical treatment, I learned about community. I learned that to me medicine means more than treating disease. It means treating people. This is accomplished by getting to know patients and their families. I learned there is truth in the saying “It takes a town to raise a child” and, similarly, I realized it requires a community with a big heart to care for and provide support to patients. I quickly understood that the citizens of Cushing have these big hearts. Even if they are deep fried and served with gravy.
