Katherine Gonzalez, MD
Baylor Medical Humanities Alum Spotlight: Dr. Katherine Gonzalez—Blending Surgical Precision with Humanistic Care
We are proud to highlight one of our outstanding alumni, Dr. Katherine Gonzalez (BS ‘07), whose career exemplifies the mission of the Baylor Medical Humanities Program: to shape physicians who see beyond illness and into the lived experience of their patients.
Now a pediatric surgeon at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho, Dr. Gonzalez brings a deeply humanistic perspective to her work in high-stakes clinical environments, including surgical care for critically ill newborns and trauma patients. Her professional goals include expanding access to pediatric surgical care in underserved regions, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, and advancing outcomes-driven research—all anchored by the values she cultivated during her time at Baylor.
“My courses in medical humanities taught me to see medicine through a different lens, instead of viewing a disease or surgical procedure in isolation, I see the person experiencing it. I can better navigate the ethical challenges and appreciate the ways patients and their families process illness. This human perspective—along with my faith—is what helps me rise and do it all again each day.”
-Katherine Gonzalez, MD
At Baylor, Dr. Gonzalez majored in biology with a minor in medical humanities and was also a member of the water polo team. She particularly remembers the impact of the arts-in-medicine course and the conversations it sparked about the healing power of creative expression. “At my medical school, we had a robust arts-in-medicine community,” she recalls. “Local musicians, writers, and artists visited the hospital to guide patients through creative expression. I hope we can replicate a program like this at our children’s hospital in Boise someday.”
After graduating from Baylor, Dr. Gonzalez earned her medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine and subsequently completed her general surgery residency at Texas A&M/Scott and White Memorial Hospital, where she gained experience with a diverse patient population. During a two-year dedicated research fellowship at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Dr. Gonzalez conducted extensive prospective and retrospective clinical studies. Her work led to multiple peer-reviewed publications focused on key aspects of surgical care, including postoperative pain management, optimized imaging practices, enhancements in quality metrics such as wound classification, and improved neonatal outcomes. While in Kansas City, she also completed a surgical critical care fellowship, gaining specialized training in bowel rehabilitation, neonatal surgical management, and trauma care. Dr. Gonzalez then pursued a pediatric surgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, where she received advanced training in congenital diaphragmatic hernia management and minimally invasive resections of both benign and malignant tumors, and applying a wide range of general surgical techniques across all pediatric age groups.
Today, Dr. Gonzalez exemplifies what it means to be a physician shaped by the humanities. Her clinical expertise is matched by a compassionate understanding of her patients and their families, and she continues to advocate for care that addresses not just the physical, but also the emotional and ethical dimensions of illness.
We celebrate Dr. Gonzalez not only for her surgical accomplishments but for the enduring way she brings her Baylor Medical Humanities education into every operating room, consultation, and moment of care.
Congratulations, Dr. Gonzalez—your work continues to inspire us.