USA welcomes Maier to emergency medicine

Krista Maier, D.O.

With a passion for teaching and learning in academic medicine, Krista Maier, D.O., has found the right fit at USA Health. She recently joined the health system as an emergency medicine physician and the Whiddon College of Medicine as an assistant professor of emergency medicine.

Maier earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, followed by a residency at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York.

What drew Maier to emergency medicine was the dynamic and varied nature of the specialty. During her clinical rotations, she experienced various fields of medicine, but it was the emergency department that truly resonated with her. 

“Each day, I see a variety of patients, with about half of these being sicker or requiring more immediate care, which keeps the job interesting for me,” she said. She can start her shift by treating gastroenteritis, then move on to splinting a fracture, diagnosing appendicitis, and managing critical cardiac issues — all within a few hours. 

Maier’s desire to contribute to medical education further led her to join USA Health. Her first job after residency involved teaching family medicine residents at a community hospital, an experience that ignited her passion for mentorship. 

“I found that I enjoyed teaching more than I had initially expected,” she said, “and this led me to pursue a position where I could be much more active in medical education.”

Now, as part of an academic health system, she finds fulfillment in helping shape the next generation of healthcare providers while continuing her own education amid the ever-evolving landscape of emergency medicine.

What Maier finds most rewarding about her role is the ability to make a significant difference in her patients’ lives in a matter of hours. She described the profound satisfaction that comes from turning around a critically ill patient, enabling them to avoid intensive care. She understands that for many patients, the emergency department is their only option for timely care, and she takes pride in being there for them during their most vulnerable moments. 

She said, “Seeing the relief on a patient’s face when I assure them that they aren’t having a heart attack or that they will be seeing a specialist within 24 hours makes up for the difficult encounters we have.”