Michigan PA Helps Brighten the Holidays for Local Foster Children

Kara Szczomak gives back in both her personal and professional life

By Dave Andrews

December 19, 2024

The holidays are about much more than presents. But the thrill of giving and receiving gifts is something many—especially kids—look forward to all year.

However, there are countless underserved children in the U.S. who have little hope of receiving presents during the holidays. PA Kara Szczomak, a dermatology PA in Shelby Township, Michigan, is among those working to change that.

For the past several years, Szczomak, along with her husband and two young kids, has helped charitable organizations in her area bring Christmas joy to local foster children. She initially participated in gift drive programs through her church, and later began volunteering with nearby organizations like Friends of Foster Kids.

Szczomak is among many other individuals and groups who together help Friends of Foster Kids provide a total of more than 10,000 Christmas presents every year to foster children across the region. They also provide school supplies and other resources to children and college students to help them achieve their academic goals.

Each year, the Szczomak family “adopts” two foster kids by purchasing the top items on the children’s wish lists. In addition to buying their most-wanted gifts, which are typically toys, they will also get a variety of other essentials they think the kids might need such as shoes, pajamas, and winter clothing.

“We often say that Christmas isn’t about the gifts, but for children, it’s a big deal,” Szczomak said. “So, for those of us who are blessed, we have the ability to help other people. My hope is that my kids will continue to do this when they become adults.”

Even though Szczomak’s children are just 7 and 5 years old, she says they are already beginning to understand the impact they are making on the lives of other kids.

“Words can’t explain the feeling of never having a bike or doll, and then Friends of Foster Kids stepped in to change that,” a former foster child said in an online testimonial about the organization. “My first Christmas with Friends of Foster Kids, I didn’t receive [just] one present, but everything on my list. It brought tears to my eyes seeing that someone really cared.”

And because Szczomak’s husband is a firefighter, their family has also been involved in other charitable initiatives. They recently participated in a “Shop with a Hero” event, for example, where dozens of needy kids went shopping with local firefighters.

“That was such a great experience for us and especially for my kids,” Szczomak said. “They got to meet and interact with the other children, which they don’t often get to do through other programs, for privacy reasons.”

Seeking Out Opportunities to Give Back
Giving back is something Szczomak has always prioritized—in both her personal and professional life. Throughout the past 10 years, she has consistently served as a preceptor for medical and PA students from schools across Michigan and Ohio.

“I had some amazing and memorable experiences with preceptors when I was in PA school, but I also had some not-so-good experiences,” recalls Szczomak. “All of that inspired me to [provide] those good experiences for students—to be someone who helps them not only gain more knowledge and experience, but also more compassion in their practice.”

Szczomak started out slowly during her first year as a preceptor, working with just one university and periodically accepting a new student. It wasn’t long before she began working with several schools simultaneously, which enabled her to serve as preceptor practically year-round.

“She’s the provider who made the biggest impact on me, personally and professionally,” said Casey Kreuser, a PA student at Grand Valley University who worked as Szczomak’s medical assistant before enrolling in PA school.

“What stood out to me more than anything else was that I could see how much she truly cared for her patients,” Kreuser said. “She is the ideal role model, and she gave me a clearer image of the type of provider I want to be.”

Being an example for the next generation of providers is a responsibility Szczomak is more than happy to take on. For her students, her primary goal is teaching compassion because she feels that empathy in healthcare has waned in recent years.

“When my students come into the room with me, I want them to see that it’s not just about how much you know, but also how well you interact with the patients,” Szczomak said. “You can’t just walk into a room, stand the whole time, and then leave at the end. You should pull up a chair and sit close to them, look them in the eyes, use appropriate forms of touch and then—truly listen.”

For Szczomak, providing quality care is a delicate balance of taking the time to make the patient feel important while efficiently addressing their needs.

“The best part for providers, particularly in private practice, is building close-knit relationships with the people you care for,” she said. “I spend a lot of time with my patients so I can really get to know each of them on a personal level. Doing that makes our role even more rewarding and it’s why I love coming to work.”

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