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“I grew up in the area and my dream has always been to come back home and serve my community. I love the people and the environment not only at the hospital with my colleagues but more importantly with the people in the community. I am so excited I get to fulfill my dream and come back home to be here for my community and to raise my family.”
Endocrinologist Dr. Amber Pinson-Hilkemeyer has joined Dr. Shrenika Reddy and nurse practitioners Theresa Rehg and Kristen Rider serving patients with Mercy Endocrinology – Jefferson. Get to know more about Dr. Pinson-Hilkemeyer in her own words with this Q&A.
Why did you get into health care?
I got into health care because I wanted to help people and make a difference in their lives. I also always wanted to have a job where I get to connect with people and build relationships. Then beginning from my childhood, I thought being a doctor was one of the best ways to do this.
Did you always know you wanted to be a physician?
Ever since I was young, being a physician is all I could remember ever wanting to do. This passion stemmed from going to work with my mom, who has been in a variety of health care fields. Being around this environment is where I am the happiest and feel the most joy, especially when I am helping and interacting with patients and their families.
What drew you to endocrinology?
One of the main reasons is because there are many different endocrinology diseases in my family, and in the process of trying to help them and give them advice, I fell in love with the field. Also, when I went to work with my mom, she worked with endocrinologists, and I was able to learn from them first-hand about the diseases as well as observe the meaningful relationships they had with their patients. The diseases we help treat effect every system in the body and are usually lifelong conditions, so knowing I am able to help treat these patients and hopefully have a positive impact on their health and overall quality of life has always been my goal.
Are there any specific conditions, procedures or treatments that most interest you?
The entire field of endocrinology is interesting mainly because most diseases will affect every system in the body, so it’s all interconnected. I am involved in treating a variety of metabolic and hormonal conditions with a focus on diabetes, thyroid disorders and osteoporosis.
What makes this field fun and challenging is we get to build strong relationships with our patients and work as a team to achieve our goal. Every patient is different, and each treatment plan needs to be tailored to the patient’s specific needs because not every treatment plan works the same for every patient. That’s a big reason why I use the most up to date and evidence-based treatment recommendations for them and believe that working as a team is the best way we can reach our goals.
Why did you choose to join Mercy Jefferson?
I chose Mercy due to the great experiences my family and I have had at our facilities when needing care. The staff and physicians have always been very comforting and provided good care. I specifically chose Mercy Jefferson due to the location and the people. I grew up in the area and my dream has always been to come back home and serve my community. I love the people and the environment not only at the hospital with my colleagues but more importantly with the people in the community. I am so excited I get to fulfill my dream and come back home to be here for my community and to raise my family.
What do you like about living here?
I grew up in DeSoto where I love the community, friends and family. I have always felt safe, and I know it truly is a hometown feel around here. I know I can find someone who will be there for us and will lend a helping hand when needed. I also enjoy going to sporting and family events in the area because it’s a great competitive and family friendly environment. The location is also close enough so we can go to great places like the Zoo, state parks and the Science Center as well as enjoy Ballpark Village, Cardinals and Blues games. We can’t wait to lay down our roots here and become part of the community again.
Do you mind sharing a little about your personal life?
I played sports my entire life and loved my childhood and growing up here. I made lifelong memories and friendships here. I went to college in Fayette, Missouri, and graduate school in St. Louis. I then completed medical school in New York City and came back home to Columbia, Missouri, for residency training. I moved to Columbus, Ohio, for fellowship training and as soon as training was complete, I moved back home! I love Missouri, the Midwest and the people and could not wait to come back home to practice in my hometown. I now have a family with two kids, and I’m excited for them to grow up here and start their lives. We are looking forward to them starting sports and school here as well as excited for them to start making long-lasting friendships and memories. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family. We love playing sports, going to sporting events, going to and planning family events, going to the state parks and town festivals. My other hobbies are cooking and baking because trying new recipes and putting my own creative spin on things is fun and relaxing and something I can share with others.
