Courtney Rhoades, MD
Generalist Division Director for UF Health Jacksonville and Medical Director of Labor and Delivery
Jacksonville, Florida
What is your current role?
My current role is Generalist Division Director for UF Health Jacksonville and Medical Director of Labor and Delivery. The Medical Directorship I will be giving up at the end of this academic year so that I can concentrate more on the Division Director position as well as my other roles in the department. I also serve as the IT Physician liaison for the department and part of the Quality team.
What is the best part of your occupation?
The best part of my occupation is working with residents. They challenge me daily to keep up with the latest literature and the newest music to listen to as well as what the newest binge watch is all about. I really enjoy seeing them flourish and become wonderful doctors. When a resident contacts me after graduation and tells me about something wonderful they did because they heard my voice in their ear – nothing beats that!
How did you become interested in Obstetrics and Gynecology?
I became interested in Ob/Gyn during the didactic part of medical school. The lectures just made sense to me. On rotations, I enjoyed the people that I worked with and felt a kinship with the patients. I will admit I tried to talk myself out of the specialty because I was afraid of the work- life balance issues that many people talked about at the time. After doing a rotating internship, however, everyone I worked with knew I was an Ob/Gyn - no ifs, ands or buts.
How did you become involved with the SAAOG?
Prior coming to my first SAAOG meeting, my favorite conference was APGO/CREOG because of the small size and energy that I got from the meeting. I always left there excited to try something new. After going to my first SAAOG meeting, I was just as energized and really impressed with the lectures and posters. I was very sad the next year, when we did not get together. The group is a wonderful mix of providers across state lines that easily share ideas and encourage us all to continue to improve the lives of our patients in a scientific manor. Interacting with everyone always fills my bucket up!
What are your hobbies outside of the office?
Outside of work, I try to keep myself outside as much as possible. During the winter, I snow ski. Give me fresh snow and I am a happy person. I run, walk and bike to the beach and spend a lot of time with my two American Bulldogs – Kilbur and Shula. They brighten my day – every day. I attempt to golf as many weekends as I can and swim as well. Prior to the pandemic, I was traveling and I hope to get to in the future. I usually go to Guatemala each year for a medical mission trip and bring a resident with me- that also has been on hold and hoping this fall, we will start up again.
I think I surprised my colleagues when I told them I could not go somewhere with them because I had plans with my book club. I listen to books on my way into work and going home and have a great time going to my book club.
