From Study Sessions to ER Consults
In the emergency room, split-second decisions save lives. Here, in this high-stakes environment, Kathryn Dasburg, M.D. ’18 and Michelle Hernandez, M.D. ’18 thrive professionally and personally, with a versatile training and friendship that began during the grueling days of medical school and now flourishes at Baptist Health.
Dasburg and Hernandez first bonded during late-night study sessions at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
“We hit it off right away,” Hernandez recalls, chuckling about their pre-exam jitters. “We’d panic together, calculating what we needed to pass, and end up with nearly identical scores—sometimes just a point apart, even on our boards!” Dasburg agrees, “We were in sync—pulling all-nighters, acing tests, then celebrating with poolside chats. Work hard, play hard was our mantra.”
Their friendship grew through shared struggles—late nights over textbooks, mutual encouragement, and a love for adventure. Both in their early 30s, they connected over their dedication to medicine and zest for travel, hiking and relaxing in the Florida Keys. “We loved balancing intense work with cutting loose,” Dasburg says. “That’s why we clicked.” Their bond deepened through life’s milestones, from being in each other’s weddings to staying close during residencies—Dasburg at the University of Florida, Hernandez in Orlando.
Fate reunited them professionally at Baptist Health. After residency, Dasburg joined the ER in Miami. During a visit to see her family, Hernandez’s father landed in the hospital, sparking a chance encounter. “I mentioned Michelle was in town and asked my boss if we were hiring,” Dasburg recalls. “It was casual, but I knew she’d love it here.”
Hernandez, settled in Orlando, wasn’t job-hunting but couldn’t resist. “Katie said, ‘Want a job?’ I interviewed, fell in love with the role, and moved back to my hometown,” she says. “Working with my best friend—it’s been amazing.”
Now, the ER colleagues navigate their shifts with the same synergy they developed during their med school days. Overlapping weekly, they bounce ideas off each other and lean on each other. “Seeing your best friend at work is a gift,” Dasburg says. “We talk cases, get advice and know someone’s got our back.”
Their FIU training, especially under mentor Dr. Darren Roy Kaufman, a Baptist Health ER doctor and preceptor, instilled a methodical approach—starting with the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation)—that anchors them in chaos.
“It made us confident we could handle anything,” Hernandez says.
For Hernandez, a Cuban-American, serving the community is deeply fulfilling. “I was born here. My family went to Baptist. Helping this community feels right,” she says.
Dasburg, tied to Miami through her parents, adds, “Patients are so grateful, especially in the Hispanic community. You’re not just treating one person—you’re guiding entire families.”