Dr. Sarah Abroms Kunin '04

Q: What challenges have you faced working during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: The biggest challenge I had was the weekend when Alabama finally realized we need to shut down too. I was on call, and I kept getting calls with questions about getting a coronavirus test. The recommendations were literally changing day to day and moment to moment. As a health care provider who needs to answer my patient’s questions, I was trying my best to advise people on what to do, but also acknowledging it was a moving target. This idea has continued to be the case. At our primary care office, we have had to rearrange how we do things: from not having any magazines for people to touch, to doing sick visits outside in people’s care wearing full protective gear. I shifted all my routine visits to phone visits, which works ok, but I always prefer to see my patients in person. You learn a lot in the few seconds you see your patient. There has also been the hurdle of trying to keep up with what insurance will pay for when it comes to telehealth visits. That has also been a moving target, but I have been prioritizing just taking care of my patients the best I can, whether or not insurance will cover it. Personally challenging of COVID: I had a baby in the middle of this pandemic. Luckily, my husband was allowed to come to the hospital with me. We had to wear a mask in the hospital while I was in labor. All the staff had on masks. None of our family got to visit while in the hospital. Brother and sister didn’t get to meet their new sister in the hospital. Grandparents and other relatives have had to stay away even since we’ve been home, which has been a little hard. 

Q: What has been your proudest moment working in healthcare?
A: Proudest moment around COVID was seeing my office staff and colleagues rearrange our office in one day to make it safe for sick visits out in the car and minimize possible exposure to our regular patients in the office. 

Q: When and how did you decide to pursue a career in healthcare?
A: I always wanted to learn as much as I could about the human body. Then I wanted to use what I learned to help other people. I enjoy helping treat people and help them keep their bodies healthy. If they have a problem, I like to help explain to them how their body works and how to address the problem. 

Q: What advice would you give to Springs students who want to pursue a career in healthcare?
A: Try to get exposed to lots of different types of medical jobs and make sure it’s something you really want to do. It’s a tough road to get there, and knowing you really want the end goal of being a doctor, or some type of practitioner, will help keep you motivated when your schooling and training gets hard. 

Q: What can the Springs community do to help during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: My general advice at this time is to practice good health hygiene: wash hands, don’t get too close to people at this time, wear a mask when out in public, especially when indoors. Your mask helps to protect others, and their masks help to protect you! If you are sick or have any symptoms, stay away from people, and contact your doctor.