RM Friend: Susan Hurson, MD

Originally from Long Island, Sue Hurson has been a Washington, DC transplant since receiving her undergraduate education from Georgetown University.  She worked at the National Cancer Institute for 6 years before attending Georgetown Medical School. While at the Cancer Institute she worked on projects that developed Taxol and Carboplatin for use in the treatment of cancer.  She finished her residency at the Washington Hospital Center. 

When asked why she chose OB/GYN, she recalls experience during clinical training drew her to gynecology.  “I felt I could make a real difference in women’s lives by taking care of women though the continuum of life; I liked the combination of obstetrics, medical and surgical interventions.” Sue was drawn to medicine early in life.  Her father was a physician and she volunteered as a candy striper as a teen.  Dr. Hurson has practiced in Washington, DC for 25 years, she discontinued obstetrics in 2015 to focus on gynecology.

Sue Hurson’s practice philosophy is to forge a partnership between patient and physician to guide her patient through to optimal health. “Sometimes patients don’t know what to ask.  I try to tell women what to expect, real ‘education and empowerment.’ To tell you what you need to know before you need to know—sometimes, as a patient, you don’t even know what to ask.”

She became interested in integrative medicine because of its focus on mind, body, and spirit.  She says, “Functional Medicine is putting it all back together so the systems are connected and integrated because they all impact each other ~integrated specialization.”  She uses a team approach with other physicians and practitioners such as acupuncturists, physical therapy, nutrition counseling, mental health and health coaching.  She guides and encourages her patients, “Be the best you can be at your age, the body will change, knowledge is power.”

What is her most frequent recommendation for women to stay healthy?  Sleep!  She adds she more fully appreciated the benefits of sleep first hand after she stopped delivering babies to focus exclusively on GYN.  “Get enough good quality sleep.  It impacts so many areas of health.  Prioritize sleep.  There is better resilience and improved immune function with proper sleep.”  

 

As told to Miriam Graham, PT, DPT, MBA

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