Katlyn Droke, MD, MS
Hello! I’m so thrilled to have joined the UVA Surgery family, which marks a meaningful milestone in my nontraditional path to medicine and surgery.
I love sharing that my first career was in marketing strategy, where I helped organizations solve complex problems and communicate effectively. While I thrived in that creative, fast-paced world, something always felt missing. I was drawn toward work that was more hands-on and service-driven. EMS gave me a taste of what I was missing and became my gateway to medicine. Every time I delivered a critical patient to the hospital trauma team, I admired how effectively and efficiently they stabilized patients, acted decisively, and collaborated seamlessly under pressure. Surgery became the perfect blend of both paths, combining critical thinking, clear communication, adaptability, and teamwork—strengths I developed in both EMS and marketing. No other field challenged or fulfilled me in the same way.
When I interviewed at UVA, I felt an immediate connection to the program. The people, the training environment, and the culture of support and excellence made it clear that this was where I was meant to be. EMS and marketing have shaped the kind of surgeon I aspire to become, and I’m eager to pursue my interests in trauma and emergency general surgery with UVA Surgery.
As a native Virginian, I’m over the moon to be back home, training at an institution I’ve always deeply admired. Outside the hospital, I enjoy relaxing with a sci-fi or fantasy book and my two oversized lap dogs, or recharging with my husband playing video games, running, or cycling.
