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As far back as she remembers, Dr. Rebecca Marshburn Sellers, M.D., says she knew she wanted to be a doctor.
Aware of this, her father –a family physician in her rural hometown of Homer, Ga.– asked his daughter if she would like to celebrate her 10th birthday by witnessing a miracle. She agreed and soon found herself in the delivery room watching her dad preside over a childbirth.
The shocking-yet-pivotal experience only furthered her trajectory, and she began becoming even more aware of her father’s impact on the town’s residents. He was a cornerstone of the community, and the go-to guy for many in need of a wide range of medical care.
“I was really inspired by the good work he’s done, and there really aren’t many specialists nearby,” Dr. Sellers says. “So he’s an all-encompassing physician. My goal is to be that way, too; very well-rounded and see a broad-based population.”
Dr. Sellers, however, has developed her own voice and style as a physician, and refers to patient care as an “art.”
“Something I would do one way, my father or one of my colleagues might do another,” she says. “I’ve learned there are a lot of different ways you can approach and deal with a particular problem, be it medicinal or homeopathic.”
She strengthens her problem-solving arsenal by reading medical journals and staying in tune with the latest developments in family medicine and related specialties. Dr. Sellers belongs to the American Academy of Family Physicians and Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. As a medical conference speaker and research author, she often shares her knowledge with others.
While Dr. Sellers carves her own path as a physician, she continues abiding by many of the core physician values she saw in her father. Establishing a strong relationship with patients through trust and communication are fundamental elements for successful care, she says.
“I have a very patient-centered approach to how I practice,” she says. “I listen to the patients’ thoughts, feelings, and opinions. Sometimes they will have suggestions on behavioral modifications instead of or in addition to the medicine they can receive. Listening builds trust, and if someone can’t trust their physician, it’s going to be difficult for them to take the advice or recommendations they’re given.”
In her spare time, Dr. Sellers enjoys running, snow skiing, birdwatching and live music. Both she and her husband, a nurse practitioner, are avid world travelers.
