Katelyn (Bennett ’09) Makar

Biochemistry

Biography

I completed medical school at Indiana University in 2013 and began my plastic surgery residency at the University of Michigan in 2013. I completed a research fellowship from 2017-2019 and finished my plastic surgery training in 2021. I am about to finish a fellowship in craniofacial surgery and have accepted a position as a pediatric craniofacial surgeon at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. I start September 1, 2022.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

Balancing community life with academic demands, the academic rigor of many of my courses, and spiritual opportunities (spiritual renewal weeks, World Opportunities Week, etc.)

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

Dr. Moore helped me to get back into the operating room in Ecuador after passing out during a minor procedure. He enabled me to get my confidence back so that applying to medical school didn't feel so daunting.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

Servant-leadership is radical within the hierarchy of medicine. It is an amazing way to lead in an operating room and be a witness to colleagues. Also, the huge emphasis on community and fellowship at Taylor has stayed with me and encouraged me to maintain a healthy balance between work, family, and church involvement as a surgeon.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

God uses all of us and our unique gifts to further His kingdom. I'm not serving as a missionary, nor do I work for a non-profit or other ministry, but I am serving others by restoring dignity through reconstructive surgery. I also feel my most important mission field is my colleagues--other physicians and nurses. Any career path can be made sacred.