Dr. Krystina Pischke, DO, has been fascinated with doctors and clinics as long as she can remember. As a little girl growing up in the Fox Valley, she asked to go along on her family’s appointments just to see the buzz of the busy clinic. That interest deepened as she grew older and began volunteering at Appleton Medical Center. “I started in the daycare and the gift shop, but I was happy when I had a chance to work in the surgical center.”
The young woman was already feeling a strong pull toward a career in medicine. Her next step was to earn her certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification after graduating from Appleton North High School, a credential that afforded her the opportunity to work as a float medical assistant at ThedaCare clinics while on breaks from her undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin.
As a college student, Dr. Pischke studied medical microbiology and immunology. She went on to medical school at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency training in family medicine through Aurora Family Medicine in Milwaukee at which time she received additional training in integrative medicine.
“Osteopathic medicine trains you to be a great primary care doctor. We receive additional training in hands-on manipulation as an extra modality. Think of it as something similar to the approach of a physical therapist or chiropractor to help patients with pain,” Pischke said. Together with her interest in preventative medicine, family medicine is a fascinating fit for Dr. Pischke. “I see so many people at different stages of life, and I get to know them. It’s a joy to be welcomed into their lives and help them to feel and live well,” she said.
When not at work, Dr. Pischke and her husband, a registered nurse, are busy with their little girl, a toddler who loves animals, zoos, swimming, and parades. The young doctor follows the Green Bay Packers and Badger sports and is very interested in photography.
Pischke hasn’t lost her fascination with medical clinics. When she returned to the Fox Valley to interview with ThedaCare, she knew about the two smaller ThedaCare primary care clinics in Neenah. “And then they told me about the new (combined Neenah) clinic (opening in February 2017 on Green Bay Road in Neenah). I keep thinking about all the new patients we’ll be able to see, and how we’ll work so well together under one roof. It will be beautiful and efficient. ” Dr. Pischke is readying herself for little girls and boys who might come along to see the new clinic in operation. There’s a chance she might inspire the Fox Valley’s next new doctor. “And wouldn’t that be awesome?”
