AMA Shadow My Specialty with Dr. Screws
Jeremy C. Screws, MD, with Hattiesburg Clinic Pediatric Gastroenterology, was recently featured in an article published by the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Shadow My Specialty series. The article highlights his perspective on physician burnout, his career journey and his advice for medical students considering a path in pediatric gastroenterology.
In the article, Dr. Screws shares insights into the unique challenges of pediatric gastroenterology, a specialty that involves caring for children with complex, ongoing conditions. He explains that while the work is deeply rewarding, it requires years of rigorous training and preparation to manage the complex needs of the patients.
“One of the most rewarding aspects is helping patients get past chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. Especially after someone has been struggling for a long time, seeing them regain a sense of normality and improve their quality of life is incredibly fulfilling,” Screws said.
Screws emphasized how Hattiesburg Clinic is addressing physician wellness through proactive measures. These include optimizing its electronic health record system, offering programs to foster collegiality among physicians and ensuring physicians have an active voice in organizational decision-making through committee involvement.
Reflecting on his own experience, Screws said, “In the last few years, after suffering from burnout myself, I have been more careful to separate work and home life, which has significantly improved my work-life balance.”
Screws expressed that pediatric gastroenterology has given him the opportunity to cover many domains including acute care, chronic care, procedures and research. Screws offered advice for medical students considering pediatric gastroenterology, stressing that success in the field depends not only on clinical knowledge, but also on resiliency and strong interpersonal skills to build trust with families and manage long-term patient care.
To read the full article, visit https://www.ama-assn.org/medical-students/specialty-profiles/what-its-pediatric-gastroenterology-shadowing-dr-screws
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About Hattiesburg Clinic Pediatric Gastroenterology:
Hattiesburg Clinic Pediatric Gastroenterology offers new and ongoing care of digestive and nutritional concerns, liver disease and irritable bowel syndrome for infants, children and adolescents. Some of the specific conditions treated by pediatric gastroenterologists include reflux, constipation, chronic diarrhea, Crohn’s disease, colitis, celiac, food allergies, eosinophilic esophagitis, chronic abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome. Other services include office consultation visits and upper and lower endoscopy procedures.
About Hattiesburg Clinic:
Hattiesburg Clinic is Mississippi’s largest privately-owned, multispecialty clinic. Founded in 1963, Hattiesburg Clinic has expanded to include over 450 physicians and providers, along with 2,500 employees, serving patients across more than 17 counties in Mississippi. Hattiesburg Clinic is committed to being the health care provider of choice in the communities we serve.
