Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of profiles of the physicians training at the Georgia South Family Medicine Residency Program. 

Some people have it all figured out. Dr. Valerie Sherrer was one of those people.

“From the time I was a small child, I knew I wanted to be a physician. I wanted to help people feel better,” Sherrer said.

While most children fluctuate career paths somewhere between wanting to be an astronaut or a princess, Sherrer was unwavering in her plans.

“High school and other experiences helped shape my decision. I knew that I wanted to make an impact on those around me and those who are less fortunate,” she said.

An Alabama native, Sherrer chose the Georgia South Family Medicine Residency Program because of the open and honest feedback she received from Program Director Dr. Kirby Smith and Program Coordinator Savannah McGowan.

“They were transparent about the program here and what they hoped to accomplish. I knew instantly that Georgia South was something I wanted to be part of,” she said.

Family medicine is a massive undertaking because of the wide amount of knowledge necessary to practice.

“I see different things everyday,” Sherrer said. “I love that one patient may be a 3-month-old well-child checkup, and the next patient may be a 72-year-old with diabetes, hypertension, and COPD. There is so much variety in the daily schedule, and I enjoy working with all the different age groups,” she said.

“This has been an amazing year full of experiences that I will never forget,” Sherrer said. “Georgia South is preparing both myself and my colleagues for our future careers by exposing us to multiple, obscure pathologies, as well as ensuring that we are comfortable treating the common ones that we will see on a daily basis.”

The program also trains residents in the latest technology and treatment options, like ultrasound-guided injections.

Upon completion of her residency, Sherrer hopes to use her skills to serve patients full time; however, her knack for making a difference isn’t just limited to a clinical setting. She is also determined to practice missionary work in Third World countries.

“I want to take care of domestic and international populations,” she said. “I just want to positively impact the lives of those around me. In doing so, I’m pursuing two dreams at once.”