Family Medicine Clinician Spotlight: Logan Smestad, MD

Dr. Logan Smestad is trained in family medicine and previously worked in Oregon practicing full-scope family medicine (including OB). He is currently practicing full time in the emergency department and teaches residents in family medicine at the Grand Itasca Rural Family Medicine Residency Program in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

What brings you joy in practicing your specialty and why? 

I was attracted to family medicine in the beginning because it has such a breadth of practice. And I like being able to practice in so many different arenas and so many different fields and then have a career where you can reinvent yourself over the years. It brings me joy to be able to be in those different places and practice in different settings. 

Why did you choose family medicine?

I chose family medicine because I really wanted to make a difference as a primary care doctor and wanted to live in a small town. I'm from a small town to begin with, and I saw the impact that family medicine had on the community there. And that was always important to me in thinking about why I chose medicine and why I chose to practice. 

What advice would you give to yourself as a physician just starting out? 

I would probably say that it’s important to have as many experiences in medicine that you can. Try to embrace all of the different environments in which you are thinking about practicing in the future and find your tribe. Pretty often enough, you'll have an idea in mind of a specialty you may or may not want to pursue. If you do specialty rotations with physicians and staff, you will likely have that feeling of like “these are the people I could be with for the rest of my life.” 

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I have two children ages four and 18 months, so chasing around our kids is a big component of my life. We also have three German short-hair pointers, which are high-energy, high-anxiety breeds. So we’re also chasing them around. And then when I have time, I like to do a variety of outdoor hobbies. In the winter, I like to ski. In the summer and fall, I like to trail run and mountain bike. 

What are your key messages when teaching residents clinical care?

The main point I try to get across is that everybody has their own unique goals and agenda. And it's our job as family medicine doctors to find out what that is, try to embrace that, and try to meet the patient where they're at. Because that's where the true art of medicine intersects: the science of medicine and being able to dissect and delve down into what people's needs are. It’s about helping to get learners to practice in a way that supports them and their needs.

What are you particularly proud of as you consider your clinical career so far?  

I'm just happy that I've been able to practice in a variety of different environments. I practiced out west for a few years. I practiced full-scope, full-spectrum care with OB care. I practiced in the outpatient setting for a little bit. I practiced in the inpatient setting as a hospitalist full time for a little bit, and now I'm practicing full time in the ER. And so, in just the short career that I've had, the opportunity to embrace all the aspects of family medicine has been powerful and great. 

What do you hope to achieve in the years to come?

I'm really excited about our opportunity here in Grand Rapids to build a strong rural residency and produce residents that are deeply interested and have a great desire to practice in a rural, underserved setting. That is near and dear to my heart, so I am looking forward to building that program and building that energy.

Learn more about the Grand Itasca Rural Family Medicine Residency Program.