Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 93 How did your upbringing in Great Falls influence your path to becoming a doctor who treats cancer? Cancer medicine always interested me – it remains one of the great frontiers in medicine; we have explored, but we're far from settling the landscape. Growing up in a household of registered nurses, I was exposed to healthcare and the health sciences at an early age. I was also fortunate to have several amazing mentors through Montana public schools and beyond who inspired my career. Did you always know you wanted to practice in Montana, your home state? Once I decided to pursue a career in medicine, I could not imagine practicing anywhere other than Montana—partially because my family lives in Big Sky Country, and because I've always felt a strong sense of duty to this community. Montana has struggled in the past with recruiting and retaining physicians, and I felt I could make a difference here. I have a unique interest in rural medicine and look forward to serving outreach clinics in northcentral Montana as well as engaging with patients through telemedicine. How does it feel when your patients conquer these complicated diseases? Cancer is undoubtedly one of the most feared and confusing medical conditions. Cancer patients are truly inspirational, and I continue to be humbled by their courage and resilience. It is incredibly rewarding to first help my patients understand and cope with their illness, and then to be a part of their journey to recovery. In doing so, I get to know my patients on a personal level and they become sort of an extended family. What makes Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute an outstanding place for patients to receive treatment? After living and working in various locations around the country, I can say without question that Sletten Cancer Institute is one of the most comprehensive cancer centers I've seen. We are fortunate to provide not only medical and radiation oncology services under one roof, but also genetic counseling, naturopathy, and numerous support services for cancer patients and their families. Maybe even more importantly, every member of the care team is compassionate and dedicated to providing the best possible care. Where do you find the strength to be such a rock for people when they are fighting for their lives? As a native Montanan, I've come to know the uncertainty of life. We expect the unexpected with our ever-changing climate and learn to take adversity in stride. We have never been a group to take the easy roads, knowing well the hardship that may lie ahead. I think this mentality serves us all well when facing an illness like cancer. I focus on the healing I have witnessed during my time in medicine and look to my faith for strength. It is one of the great privileges of my life to be a part of my patients' journey through illness and recovery. A tradition of advanced care. Learn more at Benefis.org What compelled you to bring your unique and critical specialty—high-risk pregnancy care—to this part of Montana? Growing up on a small farm in rural Michigan, I always longed to live and work in the West. My father saved my tattered, dog-eared magazine issues of Western Horseman that had meant so much to me growing up, and looking at them 40 years later, I'm reminded how much I had wanted to live and now practice medicine in Montana. I love the open spaces, the people, their kindness, and their genuine love for their families. I am so impressed with the work ethic and self-reliance of the Montana mothers who I've had the privilege of caring for at Benefis. What do all the letters behind your name mean? The initials DO represent Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, and FACOOG stands for Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This designates that I'm both a fellow and board-certified. I am board-certified in two specialties, OB/GYN and MFM. When you think about your work, what makes you smile? Thinking about the babies and families we have been able to positively impact makes me smile. A newborn has the greatest potential, so the time we spend doing our best for them feels like time well spent. Can you describe the level of care provided in the Benefis NICU? When a mom is transferred to Benefis for Level III NICU care, we are honored to be trusted with the promise of giving top- notch newborn care. Making sure we deliver on that promise is at the forefront with each patient. The Benefis NICU is second to none. Having a private room for each newborn in an intensive care setting, including a place for parents to sleep, is what every parent would want. I didn't really want to look at another Montana site after visiting Benefis, my first stop in the state. I was so impressed with the Benefis NICU facilities and the NICU team's passion for the babies in their care, along with the compassionate, high-quality care the Benefis Women's Health providers give their patients. How did you acquire such deep compassion for others? I developed my compassion for others from watching my mom growing up. She was not in the medical field, but she cared for every living thing she knew was suffering, whether it be plants, our own animals, stray animals, or human beings. She was the most compassionate person I have ever known. The High-Risk Pregnancy Doctor Who Runs on Compassion June C. Murphy, DO, FACOOG, specializes in maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) at Benefis Health System. She cares for mothers and their unborn children who have complex circumstances, such as multiple gestation, preterm labor, or other health complications. Meet June Murphy, DO, FACOOG

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