The challenges of doing his job well and constantly improving his performance, while getting to know his patients, are what Mark Schlauderaff, M.D. enjoys about being a physician.  Dr. Schlauderaff has practiced internal medicine since 1983, having graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1980, and completing his residency at the University of Washington. He opened Olympic Physicians P.L.L.C. in Shelton in February of 1985, and his clinic continues to serve more and more patients from this area.  In addition to overseeing his clinic, Dr. Schlauderaff also serves as an instructor for Mason General Hospital's Living Well With Diabetes program (see adjacent story).  "I enjoy teaching," he said. For Dr. Schlauderaff, the most interesting part is helping people change and adopt healthier lifestyles to care for themselves better. As science continues to advance over the years, Dr. Schlauderaff has seen a gradual paradigm shift in the program: a team-based approach with a "patientcentered" relationship has replaced the former style of one doctor taking charge of every aspect. Research has shown that empowering patients, who have diabetes with knowledge about their condition is essential to improving their outcomes. "So the challenge, I think for me, has been to kind of learn those things," he said. Dr. Schlauderaff also oversees Mason General Hospital's Intensive Care Unit. He is looking forward to seeing more computer technology to further improve the hospital's quality of care in the near future. "What we do is extraordinarily complex," he explained, citing a leading medical thinker who said, It's impossible to practice medicine with an unaided mind. "That," Schlauderaff said, "is where computers can provide reminders so that essential details do not get overlooked".  In his spare time, Dr. Schlauderaff enjoys cycling and the benefits of being outdoors.

<< Back