Christine Krueger, MD, MS, is a primary care physician who is board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics.
Although she was interested in a career in medicine as a child, she took a detour into biomedical engineering for several years. “In high school, I was recruited into a science and engineering program. I have always enjoyed learning about systems and how they work, and so I studied biomedical and materials engineering at Johns Hopkins. I later worked as an engineer for a medical device company,” Dr. Krueger says. “But eventually I realized that I wanted to help people more directly.”
In fact, one of her favorite parts of her job is spending time with patients and earning their trust. “I enjoy helping people navigate the delicate parts of their lives. They are often coming to me when things aren’t going well,” she says. “What I love about being able to treat children and adults is that I can care for patients through milestones from infancy to adolescence and even at the end of life. I like holding their hand through the whole process.”
When it comes to establishing a strong relationship with a new patient, Dr. Krueger tries to talk to them like they are a member of her own family. “I try to reverse the power dynamic and decrease some of the traditional formality. I like to be authentic, show empathy, and normalize a person’s experience,” she says.
As for her previous career as a biomedical engineer, Dr. Krueger says she still draws from the experience. “Being an engineer is a way of life. It’s a different way to think about the world and how people and organizations work,” she says. “It’s also about being persistent to achieve a goal, and I use this skill when I’m advocating for my patients.” For example, that might include getting a medication approved by an insurance company or getting quick consultation from a specialist when necessary.
Dr. Krueger’s research is focused on health disparities, patient centered communication, medical education, advocacy, and quality improvement.
