From CMU, to Duke, back to Mt. Pleasant
Physician returns to deliver much-needed OB-GYN care
“Patients are in awe that I did my residency at Duke University, but my CMU degree means more to them. They see it and feel that I’m part of the community; that I understand them.” – Dr. Kristen Carrillo-Kappus
As a girl, Kristen Carrillo and her family lived with her grandparents in Austin, Texas. She often accompanied them to medical appointments, observing gaps in care and the effects of untreated chronic disease on her family.
Those were formative experiences.
Kristen was first in her family to graduate from high school and first to graduate from college. She earned a master’s in public health and managed large grants that funded breast and cervical cancer screenings in medically underserved communities.
Yet her childhood memories pushed further. She wanted to be the doctor leading the care.
Why and how medical school at CMU
The future physician was attracted to Covenant Healthcare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University because of its mission to educate doctors determined to provide care where it’s most lacking.
She felt a strong connection during her interview, as CMU faculty genuinely cared about her and what her experiences would mean to patients. A National Health Service Corps Scholarship paid for her education in exchange for a commitment to work in a rural or medically underserved community. It was the financing she needed to become an OB-GYN in a high-need area.
“Anything that offsets the cost of medical school, especially for students who don’t come from generations of doctors, helps bring physicians to communities that need them most.”
A top-tier residency and a return to Mt. Pleasant
Upon earning her M.D. in 2020, Carrillo-Kappus became the first CMU physician to land one of the nation’s top OB-GYN residencies at Duke Health in North Carolina. Duke is renowned for its leadership in complicated maternal-fetal medicine, gynecologic oncology, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and reproductive endocrinology/fertility care.
The high-intensity, fast-paced experience gave her confidence and skill in complex cases.
Her residency prepared her to go anywhere, and Carrillo-Kappus chose to join Isabella Citizens for Health, a federally qualified health clinic in Mt. Pleasant, in fall 2024.
Her work with patients, who live up to three hours away, addresses a desperate need for care. The woman-to-OB-GYN ratio is 3,035:1 in Isabella County — nearly three times the state average.
“It’s fantastic to see her, our first CMU doctor, serving patients with such compassion and superb clinical skill,” said Jennifer White, CEO of Isabella Citizens for Health. “Kristen proves the strength of CMU’s medical school.”
Dr. Rosemary Poku became one of Carrillo-Kappus’ patients after a routine checkup showed the need for an immediate cesarean section. Poku’s doctor was away, so the CMU-educated OB-GYN stepped in to guide one of her former College of Medicine faculty members through the unexpected delivery.
“I will cherish that memory forever,” Poku said. “She told me that my baby and I were her priority, which put me at ease. She explained everything and coordinated it all with her team, just like we teach students to do. I am so proud of her.”
More than 3,000 patients to date
“CMU faculty often reminded us that the patients in front of us are people, with generations of family members who will be impacted by our care. That’s heavy. But CMU prepares us well.” – Dr. Carillo-Kappus
Since becoming an M.D. in 2020, Carrillo-Kappus has:
- Delivered more than 750 babies
- Performed more than 500 gynecologic surgeries
- Cared for more than 3,000 individuals
She is among nearly 1,000 CMU-educated physicians.
