2009 Distinguished Alumni ~
Dr. Linda Petter
Dr. Linda Petter, a family practitioner in Tacoma and author of
“Common Medical Sense,” its 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award winner
for her outstanding work in the health care field.
“I’m flattered and honored to win this award,” said Petter, a 1983
Highline graduate. “If it wasn’t for Highline, I don’t believe that
I would be where I’m at today. My career was defined at Highline.”
She came to Highline in 1980 wanting to be a nurse, but changed her
career path after receiving encouragement from various people,
including one Highline professor. “I told him I wanted to be a
doctor, and he told me I could be anything I wanted to be,” Petter
said.
Petter has spent her career striving to improve the quality of
health care through patient education.
She uses her Website, books and public-speaking appearances to
consistently promote her message. In addition, she has a regular
feature at 7:45 a.m. Sundays on KOMO-AM 1000.
“Dr. Petter’s personal and professional accomplishments since
graduating from Highline Community College make her most worthy of
receiving our Distinguished Alumni Award,” said Highline Vice
President for Student Services Toni Castro, who nominated Petter for
the award. “Her determination, professional motivation and
commitment to the medical profession and public health are most
admirable.”
Petter recently started her own Website,
www.docforall.com, which
provides direct access via e-mail, Webcam, telephone and instant
messaging to a doctor at any time.
She started the Website because she believed that all people
should have the right to know basic health care information.
“Everyone should have contact with a doctor even if they do or do
not have insurance,” said Petter, the chief of the Department of
Family Practice at St.
Francis Hospital
in Federal Way.
In
addition, her self-help book, “Common Medical Sense,” contains
practical information about health-care problems, including sleep
disorders, depression, weight loss, nutrition, high blood pressure,
cholesterol, diabetes and aging. The book was published in 2005.
She wrote her second book, “Health Care on a Budget,” because
“I thought that the inside information that doctors know should be
shared with patients,” Petter said. She is currently seeking a
publisher.
After graduating from Highline, Petter earned bachelor’s
degrees in molecular biology and English from the
University
of Washington.
She graduated in 1993 from the University of Osteopathic Medicine &
Health Sciences in Des
Moines, Iowa.
She completed her residency training at the Mayo Clinic in
1995 and University of Illinois’
Carle Hospital in 1998.
Learn More About
Last updated:
May 10, 2010
|
