October 06, 2011
What’s up, Doc: Meet Dr. Anna Kulik-Carlos
Dr. Kulik-Carlos is a family medicine physician practicing at Swedish Covenant Medical Group's Mayfair Office.
This profile is part of a series introducing Swedish Covenant Hospital's physicians to all hospital employees. This is an opportunity to get to know our doctors and better understand their care philosophies.
Dr. Anna Kulik-Carlos is a family medicine physician at Swedish Covenant Medical Group’s Mayfair Office.
What is your practice philosophy?
Communication is very important when treating patients. I always make a point to listen to the patient and really hear what they feel the main concern is. Preventive care also drives my practice. A lot of people don’t realize when they come to the doctor with a specific complaint that often how they care for themselves on a day-to-day basis impacts their health.
Are you passionate about treating any particular medical condition?
Fitness and nutrition are very important, but what I really feel that one of the biggest steps in preventive care for my patients is smoking cessation. I think that it takes a lot out of a patient to quit smoking, and they require a lot of support from their physician to help them through that. I try to help these patients find a unique mode of stress relief such as exercise or another hobby, and I may explore pharmacological treatments, but I find that physician support, following-up and encouragement are often the most important parts of treatments.
Why did you choose to be a family medicine physician?
Family medicine always appealed to me because the population that I see is really wide-ranged. I really enjoy caring for the pediatric population, but I also enjoy the challenging cases you see in adult medicine. Additionally, I first knew I wanted to go to medical school because when I was growing up, my mom was a nurse. She was very compassionate toward patients, and I wanted to instill that same level of care in my patients, and I feel like I am able to do that now that I’m a physician here at Swedish.
Are there any unique services you offer Swedish Covenant Hospital patients?
One unique benefit for many patients is my fluency in Polish. Any patient who is not comfortable having an exam in English can come to me and I am happy to provide any exam and care in Polish.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Providing the continuity of care is my favorite part of being a family medicine physician. I would love to follow my infant patients today as they grow up and provide their care all through adulthood and into their elder years.
What is an interesting fact about you?
I am a new mom. I have an 8-month-old at home, and this has given me a new outlook on the care I provide to my patients — particularly children.
For more information about Dr. Kulik-Carlos and her practice at the Mayfair Office or to refer a patient, call (773) 205-7200.
