Middle school science teacher
turned family medicine physician
What happens when you tell a biology-obsessed teenager that being a doctor is a terrible option for happiness in a career? She tries a bunch of adventures on her way to finally becoming a family physician, and finds a way to avoid the overwhelming burnout that all her colleagues struggle with.
From DC - but don’t hold that against her!
Dr. Langley grew up just outside of Washington, DC, and while her peers were picking out Ivy League schools to attend, she felt the pull to go somewhere that would make her happy. She knew she could learn and excel at any institution - she wanted to ski and rock climb, too! Her road was truly steered by the Almighty, because it was at the University of Colorado, Boulder where she not only was solidified in her Catholic faith through the diversity of thought there, but she found the love of her life that allowed the rest of her dreams to come true.
She was still haunted by her mentors telling her not to be a doctor, so even though she had completed a pre-med education, after graduation she taught math, science, religion, and computers to middle schoolers in a small school in Westminster, CO. It was a great job, and she will always have a soft spot for that age group, but she felt she ought to at least try to apply to medical school, just to see what happens. Soon she had a full scholarship from the Air Force to attend Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences - the only school she interviewed at where the students seemed actually happy in their studies, of course!
If not a doctor, then what?
Let’s fly, too!
After medical school, the adventures kept coming. During her family medicine residency at Nellis AFB, outside of Las Vegas, she opted to become both a family physician and a flight surgeon, so she could care for aircrew and their families (and build relationships by flying in their planes!) She and her husband welcomed a new baby at every duty station they went to. From Vegas, to Enid Oklahoma to care for pilots-in-training, to a dream assignment in Spangdahlem Germany, and finally to Colorado Springs, where family and a Reserve assignment awaited them.
What is DPC?
In Colorado Springs, Dr. Langley learned about Direct Primary Care, a way of practicing medicine which allows her to contract directly with her patients through a monthly membership fee. In this way, she is able to provide fighter pilot-level medical care for puddle-hopper prices. Plus without the giant headaches of health insurance, she gets to spend more time with her family and their innumerable hobbies.
When Dr. Langley isn’t in the clinic, you can find her reading books with her little ones, rock climbing with her 12-year-old, working with her honeybees for some quiet time, running alongside her biking 14-year-old, trying to balance her toddler on the back of their sweet jersey cow, training for a sprint triathlon with her childhood best friend, or finally catching up with her husband over a sunset on the back porch.
Education in healthcare
Teaching sex ed to middle schoolers before becoming a physician changed Dr. Langley. She loves talking about the difficult topics! Well child checks with adolescents are some of her favorite chances to talk about what to expect as they grow up - mentally as well as physically and socially - and to set the example that these are the kinds of things that are OK and normal to talk about with your doctor.
She wishes everyone had a doctor they were comfortable talking with about personal topics. Her youtube channel is one way in which she tries to educate the world about healthcare topics, and show that even poop and rashes ‘down there’ are important to discuss with an expert, before they get worse!
Community servant
Dr. Langley currently sits on the grant committee of the Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation and loves to reward some of the best area non-profits with funding. That’s where she hears about some of the amazing work done in the community and loves to talk about what she learns! One of her favorite parts is her annual site visits; she’s gotten to learn more about CASA, Project Angelheart, Catholic Charities, Inside Out, NAMI, and more, in person!
She also seeks to give back by leading breastfeeding support groups through La Leche League, working on her church’s Life and Safety Committee, and volunteering at St Peter’s Catholic School in Monument. Once a month also finds her serving the Air Force Reserves with her experience as a flight surgeon.