Surgery Spotlight: Dr. Kendall R. McEachron
The Department of Surgery is proud to highlight Kendall R. McEachron, MD, MS, an Assistant Professor specializing in trauma, critical care, and acute care surgery. In this feature, Dr. McEachron shares insights into her journey to surgery, lessons she's learned, and her advice for aspiring surgeons.
Dr. McEachron's love for surgery began with her fascination with problem-solving. "Surgery initially interested me because of the technical aspects and the ability to fix problems in tangible ways—you enter the operating room with a problem, and by the time you leave, it is fixed," she shared. Although she acknowledges that this early perspective was somewhat naive, her passion for the field grew stronger. As a medical student, the people she met along the way ultimately influenced her decision to pursue surgery. "Finding good mentors and 'your people' is essential for happiness and success in training and beyond," she said.
When asked what advice she would offer aspiring surgeons, Dr. McEachron emphasized that passion is critical. "Only go into it if you are truly passionate about the work and cannot imagine yourself doing anything else," she explained. She also encourages others to stay open to change. "It's okay to change your mind if it ends up being the wrong fit. Never allow the momentum of your training/career to make you feel like you're stuck in a rut you can't get out of. On difficult days in training, even reminding myself that I had the option to change residency programs was enough to make me feel like I had some control over my life, and in reframing my options, I became more sure of my choice to become a surgeon."
Additionally, she noted the unique challenges women pursuing surgery may face, like navigating questions about work-life balance and societal expectations. But her advice remains the same for everyone: be passionate and certain about your work and the field.
Dr. McEachron's training at the University of Minnesota was filled with growth opportunities, but it wasn't without challenges. Thankfully, her colleagues and mentors supported her throughout the challenges in her eight years in the General Surgery program and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship. "My amazing co-residents and our APPs covered for me when I was pregnant/postpartum/breastfeeding, changed shifts with me, and helped me with research projects," she shared. Her fellowship brought its own unique challenges, starting in June 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. "I dealt with a lot more respiratory failure than I otherwise might have in surgical critical care fellowship. I had the opportunity to train in ECMO as a treatment for respiratory failure, and I still do this as staff," she said.
Returning as faculty has been a meaningful experience for Dr. McEachron. "The best part about returning as faculty is that I knew who I could call for help or advice from day one. That goes for surgeons in my own division, surgeons in other divisions, or colleagues in other departments. I retained many of my mentors from training, which has helped with the transition to being faculty. It also helped to know where the bathrooms were located on my first day and which unit has the best free coffee," she joked.
For Dr. McEachron, her patients are the most rewarding part of her career. "The trust they place in me is humbling, and seeing them get better is so rewarding," she shared.
As she continues her journey, Dr. McEachron is excited to grow as a clinician, surgeon, and mentor. "I'd like to mentor students and residents in return for all of the mentoring I've received through the years," she said. Looking to the future, she's staying open to new opportunities. "From what I'm told, our careers rarely turn out how we expect. New opportunities and changes come up all the time. Staying curious about the future instead of rigid seems like a good attitude to have," she shared.
Dr. McEachron's journey highlights the power of mentorship, resilience, and a deep commitment to patient care. Her expertise and dedication are a wonderful addition to the University of Minnesota Department of Surgery, and we're excited to see the impact she will continue to make.
