Teaching on the Frontlines: Dr. Kara Francis Begins her Journey as a Preceptor in Browning

Growing up in Livingston, Kara Francis, MD, knew that when she became a physician, she wanted to do more than care for patients — she wanted to teach. After earning her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Oregon in 2015, she went on to graduate from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2021 through the Montana WWAMI program. Now a family medicine doctor in Browning, Dr. Francis balances hospitalist duties with outpatient primary care, and this year she stepped into a new role as a WWAMI preceptor.

“As a former Montana WWAMI student, I know firsthand the immense benefit of training in rural and underserved communities,” she said.

Inspired early on by caring primary care providers in small towns, Dr. Francis deepened her commitment to medicine while working in Hardin, where she saw firsthand the importance of serving tribal communities and addressing the need for comprehensive healthcare. She appreciated the knowledge and guidance her attendings shared with her, and she wanted to provide that same kind of mentorship to others.

“Now, as a newer attending, I find teaching one of the most rewarding aspects of my job,” she said. Our students bring an amazing blend of excitement, joy, questions, and knowledge that keeps me engaged and constantly challenges me to be a better physician and person.”

In her first year as a preceptor, Dr. Francis worked with three RUOP (Rural Underserved Opportunities Program) students and two fourth-year Montana WWAMI students in the Indian Health Pathway, with more students scheduled later this year. She says Browning offers a dynamic environment for teaching.

“In the course of a day, a student and I can attend a delivery, discuss the complex conditions of an admitted elder, and then go to clinic to see individuals of all ages,” she added. “The community is made up of amazing, resilient people who welcome our students and often share life experiences that greatly affect them, and me.”

When she’s not in the clinic, Dr. Francis enjoys getting outdoors with her husband and their two dogs. Whether hiking, trail running, skiing, or fly fishing, the family makes the most of living near Glacier National Park’s mountains and waterways.