Print Version
E-mail This StoryMedical Center of McKinney has added some fresh faces to its staff.
Dr. Kurt Bangerter and Dr. Claudia McDonald joined the MCM family Jan. 2 as the first two neurosurgeons in McKinney.
For the past five years, McDonald and Bangerter have been practicing in Denison. McDonald has been coming to Medical Center of McKinney part-time for the past three years.
McDonald, a Dallas native, said she had several reasons she wanted to move the practice to McKinney. She has been living in McKinney for the past year and a half with her cat and two dogs.
“Personally, I love the area. I love the people. I love the way the area has been planned with parks and trees,” McDonald said. “As far as the practice, the move here is for several reasons. First of all, I think this hospital is a great environment to practice in.”
Prior to Denison and McKinney, McDonald had practiced in Birmingham, and was in the Air Force for three years. She received an undergraduate and graduate degree from Baylor University, trained at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and did her residency at Tulane in New Orleans.
Neurosurgery wasn’t always McDonald’s first choice. She was a clinical psychologist for seven years before deciding to make a career change.
“I decided to do a fellowship in neuropsychology or go back to medical school,” McDonald said. “At the age of 31, I went back to medical school.”
While attending medical school, McDonald said she fell in love with neurosurgery and decided to pursue it as a career.
“I knew I wanted to do something that involved taking care of people and initially that was clinical psychology,” McDonald said. “I really enjoyed what I did, but I thought I could enjoy this more.”
Bangerter was busy in surgery Wednesday, and was unavailable to interview for this article. According to the Texas Medical Board’s Web site, he graduated from the University of Miami in 1991. He interned and did his residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital at the University of Miami. Bangerter has a board specialty certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
McDonald said she has enjoyed working alongside Bangerter.
“It’s a pleasure practicing with him,” McDonald said.
McDonald said she is looking forward to having the opportunity to work in a growing community.
“The community is just the fastest-growing community in the nation,” McDonald said. “Two years ago, if you had a head injury, you had to go to Dallas.”
Contact staff writer Stefanie White at swhite@acnpapers.com. To post comments online, access this story at www.scntx.com.
