Age: 33

Job: Emergency medicine physician, Global Health Fellow, Emergency Physicians of Tidewater

At work: I work as an attending physician in the emergency department. From seeing patients with colds to cardiac arrests, my job gets to see the full spectrum of medicine.

Home and family: I live in Norfolk with my wonderful husband, four beautiful stepdaughters and our spunky puppy. I’m originally from Baltimore.

Volunteer activities: I am the co-facilitator of the Street Health Team and Blue Heart Clinic at Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University. Street Health brings medicine to the streets of Norfolk, providing primary care for our uninsured and underserved population. Our Blue Heart Clinic focuses on providing primary care, women’s health and mental health to those who have been impacted by human trafficking, domestic assault and sexual violence.

Motivating factor: A sense of community.

Advice to young people: Continue trying new things! The opportunities that come by and push you out of your comfort zone may be some of the best learning chances.

Professional goal in five years: My hope is to be teaching at a residency and medical school on social determinants of health and trauma-informed care.

The one thing I’d change about Hampton Roads: Continue finding ways for retention of our young physicians to stay within Hampton Roads.

Region’s biggest asset: Passionate young physicians who want to help our community!

Downtime: Currently training for a Half Ironman, reading, hikes and paddle boarding.

What really gets under my skin: Health care discrepancies.

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/10/27/top-forty-under-40-2025-katherine-schaffer/