Doctor Profile: Siv Brit Saetre, M.D.
« View the directory listing for Siv Brit Saetre, M.D.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a town called Sandnes in southwest Norway. I worked as a Med Tech in Stavanger for five years before moving to the USA in 1981.
What prompted you to move from Norway to the United States and what impressed you most about the American culture when you relocated?
I met my husband at a disco in 1977, in Stavanger, Norway, while he worked there as petroleum engineer for Phillips Petroleum. He convinced me to join him in Oklahoma and pursue my goal of going to medical school. In retrospect, the move was quite stressful and I believe I did not really overcome my homesickness until we started our own family 11 years later. Still, I tend to look at the positive side of things so my “longing’” never slowed me down. Americans are very open and welcoming people. Everyone I met made me feel right at home immediately. The same can be said about Drs. Bill and Ronn Hofmann, whose practice I joined here in the Quad Cities in 1993. Not only did they provide me with a wonderful Ophthalmology practice but they also became my extended “family.”
Tell us about your family.
My husband and I have two children: Solveig is 17 this year and James will be 14. My husband, Jim, left engineering and has been a house husband since the children were born. He’s very supportive and plays an active role in the Iowa Medical Society Alliance.
Tell us about your hobbies and why you enjoy them:
As a family we love to travel. We’ve covered five continents thus far. We have done RAGBRAI several times and plan to go again this year. I also enjoy knitting, embroidery and sewing, which is part of my Norwegian heritage. I spin at the YMCA to stay in shape. What inspired you to study medicine? I went to medical school because I love medicine. Working in the lab as a med tech was interesting but I was not part of the action. So, the natural next step was medical school.
Why did you choose to become an ophthalmologist?
Ophthalmology appealed to me because it gives you the opportunity to work with patients of all ages, from premature infants to 100+ in years. (My oldest cataract surgery patient was 104.5 years old!) As a glaucoma specialist and cataract surgeon, I work with a lot of senior citizens. They are wonderful patients, and I look forward to my work every day.
What are some of the latest advancements in ophthalmology patients should know about?
New advanced technology allows us to improve our patient care. In cataract surgery, we now perform 2.2-2.4 millimeter incisions that seal themselves. For those with uncontrolled glaucoma, we do glaucoma and cataract surgery all in one operation and with great long-term success. We also offer intraocular lenses that correct for astigmatism and some that correct for distance and near tasks.
What do you feel is the top healthcare issue facing patients today?
Healthcare is faced with many challenges in the years ahead. I feel, though, that there is probably a greater consensus of what needs to be done now more than ever. As a nation, we need to contain costs and expand coverage to those patients who aren’t eligible for insurance under the current system. As physicians, we need to adapt practices to enhance our efficiency and accuracy.
What advice do you wish patients would take more often and why?
I believe and hope that patients will become better ambassadors of their own health through improved medical literacy, education and healthier lifestyles.
