Kari Sculati, NP - Beacon Medical Group Ireland Road

Sometimes, you just have to listen to the voice within. In college at Indiana University South Bend, Kari Sculati was working in the business department at a local hospital and planning for a career in advertising. "While attending a hospital-wide meeting," she explains, "I remember hearing a voice in my head that said, you need to be a nurse, you need to change your major. It was so prominent and calm, I immediately contacted my adviser and have never looked back." Kari is most at home in a healing environment and says, "Nursing and caring for people are truly where I am supposed to be." She chose dermatology because it allows her to connect with her patients, providing important health screenings and education on skin cancer prevention. But it’s more than that, says Kari. "The skin is the largest organ in the body; it protects us. And because it is connected to the entire system, it can sometimes show signs of internal diseases before they become obvious." After working at Memorial Hospital for 25 years, in a range of positions from intensive care nurse to the Director of the ICU, the transition to Beacon Medical Group was a natural choice. Their mission matches her own: putting patients first and helping them live their best, healthiest lives. Practicing that mission means one thing – partnership. She treats her patients the way she wants to be treated. "It’s important to listen, ask questions and connect with people, removing obstacles that prevent them from achieving their goals and celebrating together when they are achieved. I genuinely care about them. I hope they learn from me that happiness comes from within and being healthy doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s about doing the simple things; prevention through healthy choices." In turn, Kari’s patients have taught her that there should always be hope – even in the darkest hour. "I have learned what it means to love unconditionally and how to find joy in the little things in life." In her own words… What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? My first job was at a grocery/garden shop. I was working in the garden shop and a frantic husband came in asking for an arrangement for his wife. I was alone at the time; the person trained for flower arranging was off that day. I explained to him that I had no idea how to put an arrangement together. He was desperate and he insisted I just put some flowers together. I was so nervous, but I did as he asked. I tried to use the things I had seen before, but I was only 17. He left happy, and I was told a few days later by my boss that he had called back to thank me and that his wife loved the arrangement. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? I would choose my Mom for all the reasons anyone wants to talk to their Mom. She died when I was a senior in high school. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? I am passionate about self-care. I believe that we can improve our health and our communities by taking care of ourselves. Our society is always moving and doing, and stress is a daily experience. But if we just take some time every day to meditate, exercise or to just BE, we can improve our health and how we interact with others in our lives. I try daily to meditate and to teach my kids to do the same. It’s not easy, and I’m still learning, but it does make a difference. I am also passionate about accepting diversity and allowing all people the same respect, regardless of their religious or political beliefs, who they love or what difficulties they may have. What are your hobbies, interests? I love DIY projects! I love fixing things, building, painting and creating things for my home and for my friends. Do you have pets? I have three dogs – all rescues. Sidney is an 8-year-old Australian Shepard mix; Harper is a 2-year-old Rottie mix with tons of energy and Coco is a 1-year-old terrier mix that thinks she is the boss of the family. They are all so very sweet.