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By Jan Jarvis

It seems fitting that Jessica Edwards, DO, was with her parents on the day she learned she had been named Resident of the Year in Family Medicine by the American Osteopathic Foundation.

“My hands were just shaking,” said Dr. Edwards, a 2014 graduate of UNT Health Science Center’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. “My parents were ecstatic, and my dad, especially, was just so happy.”

Her parents have every reason to be proud of their daughter. The award presented in partnership with the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, recognizes outstanding residents who embody clinical promise, leadership and dedication.

Now a resident at Care Point Health-Christ Hospital Family Medicine, Dr. Edwards is clearly following in her father’s footsteps. Dralves Edwards, DO, a 1980 TCOM graduate, has practiced family medicine for 36 years.

It didn’t take long for his daughter to realize that family medicine and obstetrics provided the perfect fit for her.

“It’s one of those specialties where you love it or hate it,” she said. “I’ve loved it from the moment I discovered it.”

Family medicine offers a lot of opportunities to work in different areas, said Dr. Edwards, who found a perfect match in the New Jersey inner-city medical facility where she works.

“I chose family medicine because I wanted continuity of care,” she said. “I always wanted to be able to take care of every patient.”

The specialty has given her to chance to deliver more than 80 babies, as well as take care of the newborns after the delivery. Only about 23 percent of family medicine physicians today deliver babies, and Dr. Edwards said she welcomes the opportunity.

“I feel like I picked the best residency,” she said.

Dr. Edwards, who will finish her residency in June, 2017, said she is currently applying for a maternal child health fellowship through family medicine. She plans to practice medicine and teach one day.

“I’d like to come back to the Dallas-Fort Worth area and teach medical students and residents family medicine with obstetrics,” she said. “I want to expose more residents to the world of family medicine.”

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