Dr. Maria Lofstead: Practicing Medicine with People in Mind

By Andrew Wilson

The common advice dispensed to college students interested in medical school is to come up with a different answer than “I want to help people” for the interview question, “Why do you want to go to medical school?”

While she understands the wisdom at the root of that advice is to encourage students to distinguish themselves from the crowd, Maria Lofstead, D.O., a primary care physician (PCP) with St. Clair Medical Group and a self-described “people person,” doesn’t see a problem with that answer.

“I enjoy people. I enjoy the idea of helping people,” she said. “There are a lot of other things that you could do besides being a doctor, so if you don’t want to help people, you’re in the wrong profession.”

That’s a philosophy that she carries into her practice every day, seeking to build a relationship with her patients.

“That interpersonal connection is just so important,” she said. “It’s important to build trust with your patients and that starts by getting to know them.”

For new patients, Dr. Lofstead says the first visit will usually last about an hour, although that might be a little shorter for a younger, healthier person.

“I’m a detail-oriented person, and I want to know their medical history, their family history, and whether they are up to date on their screening and vaccines,” she said. “I generally like to lay a good foundation on that first visit.”

Following that first visit, Dr. Lofstead recommends an annual exam with young, healthy patients, but older patients or patients with chronic conditions may need to be seen more frequently.

“It’s really helpful for me to stay up to date on things,” she said, describing it as a “360-degree view” of a patient’s health. “If I stay up to date, I have a more complete view of their health.”

Establishing that foundation during a wellness visit can be critical in deciding what to do when the patient calls because they are feeling unwell. Everyone experiences aches and pains from time to time, but deciding whether it is serious enough to bother a doctor is often a tough decision. Dr. Lofstead can make that decision easier.

“A lot of people will say, ‘Oh, it’s probably nothing, and if it is nothing, that’s great,’” she said. “But if it isn’t … well, there are weird things that happen in life. If you are experiencing something outside your normal, come in. There’s never a downside. Even if it ends up being nothing, I like to reinforce to patients that I’m glad they came in.”

As an internist, staying up to date on her patients’ health is also important for her role as a “preventionist,” a term she may have coined. Simply put, a preventionist seeks to keep her patients well by making sure they are doing the things they need to do to head off illness.

“If I can help patients from having a heart attack or developing diabetes or some other chronic condition, that’s what I try to do,” she said. “I let my patients know what they should do to have good health, but I try to give them options.”

By options, she means that not everyone is ready to change their lifestyle immediately, which she understands. Still, Dr. Lofstead encourages them to make small changes that will begin to affect their overall health positively.

“It’s important for me to meet my patients where they are,” she said. “My role as a PCP is to figure out the next best steps for my patients.”

She believes every doctor begins their career planning to change the world, and she was no exception. She has come to discover that the best way to change the world is one patient at a time, which is why she wants patients to engage with her and ask questions about treatment options.

“I encourage them to ask questions. People like to know the ‘why’ behind a preventive health change,” she said. “I enjoy giving them the rationale and reason behind it so they can understand why I am making this recommendation for them.”

One advantage she believes she has is working at a health system like St. Clair Health.

“I have a passion for community medicine,” Dr. Lofstead said. “I did my residency in a community hospital that was very much like St. Clair. It’s so much easier to make the personal connections that can improve patients’ health.”

Spoken like a true people person.

Dr. Maria Lofstead practices with St. Clair Medical Group Internal Medicine. She earned her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Reedsville Hospital and Medical Center. She sees patients at the following St. Clair Health locations:

Robinson Township Multispecialty Suite
1 Robinson Plaza, Suite 410
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
(412) 942-6755

Professional Office Building
1050 Bower Hill Road, Suite 101
Pittsburgh, PA 15243
(412) 343-1770

To learn more, call 412.942.DOCS or visit stclair.org/internalmedicine.