Dr. Julie King grew up in a small town as one of 8 children. From her earliest memories, she recalls wanting to be a doctor. She was inspired by her town’s local doctor who Julie describes as the quintessential small town doctor who delivered and cared for everyone in the town. Julie wanted to be that small town physician and she set her sights to get there. Reinforcing her direction, Julie described how as a child, she used to walk to the hospital after school to meet up with her sister who was a nurse. There, Julie observed her sister deep in the inpatient nursing work, and recognized how difficult that work really was. Julie’s dream to be a doctor was solidified.
Julie received her Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University and her Medical Doctor Degree from Albany Medical College. For her residency, she worked under Dr. Mindy McMinn and, later, Dr. Pam Horst, both Hospice of Central New York physicians. This was the beginning of her work in a Hospice and palliative care setting and she loved it.
Following medical school and residency, Julie joined St. Joseph’s Hospital outpatient practice in family medicine, just as she had always planned. During this time, she and her husband, Nathan, welcomed two children to their family. Amidst those 7 ½ years of accomplishment and challenge, Julie faced a turning point in her career.
Returning from a family vacation, she received a call that changed her life. Her older brother, Mike, was in the hospital and they suspected cancer. Mike had always been the one that looked out for others and his siblings, especially after their father died when Julie was in 5th grade. Mike was the one that walked her down the aisle on her wedding day.
For the following five months, Julie and the whole family rearranged their lives and dropped everything to be with and take care of Mike. During this time, her perspective on how she wanted to help people shifted – especially now that she had personally lived through the experience as a caregiver, a loved one, and with the reality that you never know when you’re going to get the call. It was during the trials and tribulations of this experience that things began to align as well. Julie was inspired to help others going through this. It just so happened that Dr. Judy Setla was beginning her search for her replacement as Medical Director of Hospice.
In January 2018 Julie’s beloved brother Mike, passed away. Less than two years later, intentionally on her brother’s birthday, Julie signed her employment contract with Hospice as the Interim Medical Director. Julie will begin her role of Medical Director on January 1, 2022 after two years of shadowing and working with Dr. Judy Setla, who will continue into her 21st year of dedication and service as a Hospice physician with reduced hours.
When Julie was asked if she had a favorite quote or source of inspiration, she referred back to the quote she included in her high school yearbook: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart”. Julie has come to Hospice with all her heart and we so very grateful and excited to welcome her!