Sarah Cole grew up with one foot in each of the worlds of education and healthcare, as her father was a school teacher and her mother was a nurse. Watching her parents excel in their careers inspired Dr. Cole to pursue both paths and become a teaching physician. The specialty she was most drawn to was Family Medicine.
“I chose Family Medicine as my specialty for two reasons,” said Dr. Cole. “The first was selfish! I loved every aspect of clinical medicine – newborn care, sports medicine, care of the older adult, women’s health, procedures, etc. – and wanted a career that offered that variety every day,” she continued. “The second reason was related to safety. I witnessed how critical communication and trust is to optimal health care. Family physicians are uniquely trained to communicate with their own patients, their patients’ subspecialists and their patients’ families in such a way as to coordinate safe, efficient care and inspire trust in the patient-physician relationship.”
Dr. Cole pursues those goals in her professional life, dividing her professional time between teaching and patient care. She spends about half of her work time seeing patients at her family practice clinic in Creve Coeur, shared with eight partners. The other half of her time is devoted to teaching the future of Family Medicine as the clinic serves as the educational practice for medical students and resident (training) physicians for Mercy. Although Dr. Cole only accepts new patients on a limited basis, several of her partners are accepting new patients, including one who is also trained in Creighton Model Natural Family Planning, Dr. Stefanie White.
Dr. Cole sees her job, including recommending NFP solutions, as a partnership with her patients and the entire community to promote a healthy lifestyle and general wellness. “I would love nothing more than to be put out of business!” said Dr. Cole. “My hope for my patients is that they feel empowered to maintain healthy lifestyles.”
In an effort to break down barriers that prevent healthy choices, Dr. Cole has conducted research primarily focused on the most effective ways to teach adult learners in health care, specifically as it relates to reduction of health care disparities in the St. Louis community, the care of infants and children and osteopathic treatments. Her research has led her to view the role of doctors as more than just healthcare providers, but healthy life advocates.
“Physicians must do more than just dispense advice and medicine within the four walls of the exam room in the clinic,” said Dr. Cole. “We must also help promote community outreach and wellness programs and help shape public health policy by talking to our state and federal legislators and advocating for our patients.”
Dr. Cole’s proactive approach to medicine also played a role in her decision to become a Creighton Model/NaPro Technology physician, but the change was also inspired by her husband, Matt.
“My husband was raised Baptist and converted to Catholicism several years ago,” said Dr. Cole. “As he was participating in RCIA, he learned about NFP and challenged me to learn more about it in my professional work.” Because she works for Mercy, Dr. Cole learned the Creighton Model and now incorporates NFP into her work with patients.
Dr. Cole credits her family with allowing her to pursue professional excellence. “I married my incredibly supportive husband over 17 years ago and I would not be able to do all the professional activities I do if it weren’t for him!”
The couple has two daughters, age 14 and 11 years old and three dogs (“because we are suckers for strays,” said Cole) who is jokingly “not allowed” to go to the Humane Society because she might come home with a new pet!
When Dr. Cole is not working, she enjoys backpacking and hiking and someday hopes to hike both the Ozark and Appalachian Trails from end to end. “My favorite thing to do around St. Louis is to follow up a hike through one of its county parks with a meal at one of its Italian restaurants!” said Dr. Cole.
Dr. Cole grew up in St. Louis as a member of Holy Redeemer Parish. She attended medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, now called A.T. Still University/Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in northeastern Missouri.
Even though she did post-graduate work at the University of North Carolina and therefore roots for the Tar Heels on the college basketball circuit, she still considers herself a big Cardinals and Blues fan!