June 3, 2021
Class of 2021: Love of country life leads new doctor to rural practice
It could have gone so many ways.
More specifically, he could have gone so many ways. Professional horseback rider听鈥 a decade ago, he competed internationally at what was dubbed the Young Rider Championships. Veterinarian听鈥 he grew up on a farm and loves horses, science and medicine. Scientific researcher听鈥 he worked in Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed鈥檚 lab in Kinesiology, investigating links between cancer care and exercise. Pediatrician听鈥 logical extension of his Master of Science research.
That鈥檚 the thing about exemplars 鈥斅爐he world is a fascinating, complex ball of possibilities and opportunities, so much so that it鈥檚 often tough to decide on one singular path.
This month, however, when Liam Kronlund holds up that valuable piece of new parchment, it may read Dr. Liam James Kronlund, MD, but, if there was room for fine print, it might also add, 鈥渞ural family medicine.鈥 Bound for Lethbridge, where Kronlund will spend two years as a resident, this multi-talented, highly curious human is ready to gallop down a trail that combines so many of his loves.
鈥淚 am sooooo excited,鈥 says the extrovert. 鈥淲ith rural medicine, you get to connect to a large patient population, create relationships, live in the country ... what could be better?鈥
Of course, Kronlund didn鈥檛 know that in 2012 when, as a 20-year-old, he decided to leave professional riding to focus exclusively on biological sciences as a first step toward veterinary medicine. Quickly, he realized his love for horses belonged in a competitive equestrian environment, so he shifted career direction toward human medicine. Being an academic athlete, Kronlund was curious about kinesiology, cancer, children, chronic disease management ... 鈥淚 admit it, I was interested in a lot of areas before I focused my master鈥檚 on physical rehabilitation and pediatric oncology,鈥 says Kronlund, who received his Bachelor of Science in 2014.
In other words, he was the perfect candidate for the 鈥 the 草莓污视频导航鈥檚 elite joint-degree program that offers graduate students the chance to combine both the clinical and research part of medicine. Working under Culos-Reed, PhD, Kronlund wound up researching the impact physical activity has on children with cancer, before he graduated聽with a Master of Science in 2018, a mere four days before he began studying medicine in 2018.
鈥淲hen I began medicine, I still remember thinking pediatrics was where I wanted to be,鈥 recalls Kronlund. 鈥淚 had loved working at the [Alberta] Children鈥檚 Hospital throughout my master鈥檚 degree, but then in my last year of med school, I had a chance to work with some rural populations and that鈥檚 when I realized that this was the population, from children through to seniors, that I wanted to work with for the rest of my life.鈥
Adds Culos-Reed: 鈥淟iam will have a positive impact wherever he ends up. His strengths are absolutely his ability to authentically connect with others, and his passion for wellness.鈥
Ditto, says one of his kinesiology professors, Dr. Larry Katz, BSc鈥75, MSc鈥79, PhD鈥84, who remembers Kronlund 鈥渁s an amazingly talented individual who was exceptionally helpful to the students [Kronlund was a lab instructor for Katz鈥檚 class], showing great empathy for their concerns and needs. Incredibly enthusiastic with exceptional energy and persistence. Liam worked very hard, giving lectures, marking assignments and providing tutorials for students.鈥
Skip to other top influencers in his life, such as Sarah Simpson, owner of Simpson鈥檚 Equine Activities, where Kronlund has coached equestrian riders since he was 19. Having extensively travelled to equestrian events with Kronlund, she describes him as a 鈥渢alented rider,鈥 鈥淢r. Overachiever,鈥 an 鈥渁ll-round great guy鈥 and 鈥渆normously patient.鈥 She also points out: 鈥淟iam can sleep anywhere ... I have seen him get on a plane and be zonked out before it even leaves the ground.鈥
As for fears, Kronlund isn鈥檛 admitting to any. But his聽fans, from Simpson to Elmira Barry, owner of One Cycle Spin Studios where Kronlund has taught spin classes for seven years, agree that his fear of birds is legendary. Simpson is convinced Kronlund perpetually orders chicken burgers because he secretly hopes to deplete the planet of all winged creatures, while Barry says Kronlund鈥檚 few vices are split between chicken burgers, chocolate chip cookies and a Starbucks London Fog.
As for his spin-class style, Barry describes Kronlund as 鈥incredibly fit, disciplined and works hard聽and yet he always seems to be able to motivate students with his joie de vie that lifts people up.鈥
One of Kronlund鈥檚 others enviable traits 鈥 actually moreso a possession 鈥 adds Barry, is 鈥渉is diverse playlist from Top 40 anthems to the odd country tune, but even more impressive is Liam鈥檚 inventory of inspiring quotes. Here鈥檚 one of his favourites: 鈥Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.鈥
鈥淟iam told me once that this quote of Gandhi鈥檚 serves as a good reminder of how he wants to live his life. I鈥檇 say balance is very important to Liam ... balance between family, friends, fitness, horses and the outdoors.鈥
If one area of medicine can fulfil all those paths and passions, it might just be rural.