Jeremy Kendrick, MD, is a Triple Board trained psychiatrist at Huntsman Mental Health Institute. Born in Idaho, Kendrick moved to Utah in his undergraduate years, briefly left and then was drawn back. We are very excited to have him here at HMHI and excited to share with you what his day-to-day is, how he spends his time outside of work and what inspired him to become an exceptional psychiatrist.
Q: What inspired you to become a psychiatrist?
I originally entered medical school with the plan to become an emergency medicine physician. I had completed a psychology undergraduate degree and felt that mental health might not hold my attention as much as a busy ER. It shouldn't have come as a surprise that, throughout medical school, I was constantly drawn back to the effects of mental illness in every area of medicine I explored. My time spent with patients, hearing the stories of their struggles with mental illness, did not feel much like "work," so much as a 鈥減rivilege.鈥 Seeing people's lives change for the better through the interventions of trained mental health professionals presented an irresistible opportunity. I have never looked back!
鈥淭he most rewarding part of my day is spent in clinic working directly with patients."
Jeremy Kendrick, MD
Q: What is your area of specialization and why?
I am a provider, meaning that I completed residency in general pediatrics, as well as child/adolescent and adult psychiatry. Having this breadth of training has allowed me to work both with kids and adults. As I have practiced, I have become interested in the group of patients we call "treatment resistant," meaning they have not responded to medicines or therapy in the way they would have hoped. I am very interested in options that might be helpful for patients who feel they have no options left.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
I do a mix of clinical work, administrative work, and research. An average day for me is generally spent working on a variety of collaborative projects with other faculty and researchers. The most rewarding part of my day, however, is generally spent in clinic working directly with patients.
Q: What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
I think I struggle the most when I see a patient has not improved the way we would hope, despite every effort they and we are making to improve their illness. Seeing the hopelessness and despair that mental illness brings into someone's life is heartbreaking. It drives my desire to continue working to improve and develop new treatments for those who have not found relief.
Q: What is the most interesting and/or rewarding part of your job?
By far the most rewarding aspect of my job is hearing from some of my younger patients years later after I have crossed their path during a time of struggle and pain. More often than not, they have found ways to find relief or cope with the burden of mental illness, and it is so exciting to learn of their accomplishments, victories, and general well-being.
Q: What do you like to do when you are not at work?
I love spending time with my kids! We love all types of games, enjoying the outdoors, and playing with our dogs. I also have a fairly hearty appetite for live music, tinkering with electronic gadgets and gizmos, or pretending I can do basic home repair tasks.
Q: Why did you decide to come to Utah?
I was born and raised in southern Idaho. I moved to Utah during my undergraduate years. While I left the state briefly for training or other endeavors, I have always been drawn back to Utah, and more importantly the University of Utah. The people I work with and the institution as a whole maintain a culture that is supportive, collegial, and just a fun place to be!