Kelli K. DeSanctis, DO, who practices as a family medicine physician at Millcreek Family Practice & Internal Medicine in Erie, has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) as an Everyday Hero.
The award is designed to showcase talented physicians who may not view themselves as heroes, but to patients and colleagues they are.
Timothy Pelkowski, MD, who nominated DeSanctis called her an “energetic” family physician in their community who “serves patients every day with skill, dedication, and compassion.”
Dr. DeSanctis provides well-baby, child, and adolescent care, as well as care for women, in Erie. Her clinical interests include geriatrics, LGBT+ health care, and medically supervised weight loss.
“One of the things I love about being a family physician is that you can treat the whole family – from the children, all the way up to grandma and grandpa,” Dr. DeSanctis said. I love building that relationship. That’s why I love what I do.”
In addition to providing stellar patient care, Dr. DeSanctis currently serves as president-elect of the Erie County Medical Society and will become its president in 2022.
Dr. DeSanctis said she makes it a priority to carefully listening to her patients each day. “The best piece of advice I’ve ever gotten was from one of my teachers when I was in training, and he told me that if you listen carefully, your patients will tell you what their ultimate diagnosis is,” she said. “People know their bodies best. My job is to sit back, listen, use my brain, and help the patient and work with them to figure out what’s going on with their health.”