Julia Curry, PA-C

Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota

What are you passionate about? I have always been athletic competing in a variety of team sports starting at a very young age, and in my collegiate years narrowing my athletic interests down to the endurance sports of running and cross-country skiing. My most recent athletic pursuit in the last few years has been Ironman triathlon. I find the physical, mental and emotional challenge of training and racing for long hours to be very enjoyable. The mantras that cycle through my head that keep me going when I doubt myself or am struggling include "continuous forward momentum" and "when the going gets tough, the tough get going"!

If I wasn't a provider, I would be a: Professional Athlete 

Why did you become a provider? Early encouragement from family certainly inspired the idea of pursuing medicine as a career. I greatly admired my grandfather, who was a pediatric anesthesiologist at Abbott Northwestern and Children’s Hospital. Outside of sharing stories, he would teach mini-medical school lessons that I found quite captivating. After completing my undergraduate degree I moved to Peru to volunteer for a public health non-governmental organization (NGO). It was this experience that opened my eyes to the skill set that a medical provider is equipped with to reach even the most remote populations of people. After returning to the USA I discovered the special role of a physician assistant (PA) in modern medical practices, which motivated me further to make it my future career.

Something I have learned from my patients is that all patients want to share their story and feel heard.

What is the best thing you've done for your health? Participating in endurance sports, which has not only made my mind and body stronger, but it has also embedded me within a very supportive and high-achieving community of people.