In the world of medicine, the bond between resident and supervising physician is often strong. But when that relationship is also between mother and daughter, the connection becomes even more profound. For Dr. Bea Kutzler and her daughter, Dr. Annelise Kutzler, while there may be a few decades between them, their journey through medicine is one of dedication, passion, and an unbreakable familial bond.
Growing up, Annelise was immersed in the world of medicine from an early age. She spent summers shadowing her mother, rooming patients, checking vitals, and even witnessing surgeries in the operating room. What began as a casual role soon became a calling. “I think it was getting to shadow her in the OR that kind of sealed the deal for me,” Annelise recalls.
Her mother, a committed physician, defied her own mother’s belief that one couldn’t be both a doctor and a mother. Bea recalls parking the stroller and kids at the nurses’ station while doing her rounds. “On weekends, I’d bring all three along in a wagon,” she laughs, remembering when hospital hallways doubled as playgrounds. Notably, her husband, Annelise’s father, is also a doctor, often juggling his own rounds and calls at all hours.
“We walk into a room, and I introduce myself as Dr. Kutzler, and then I introduce her. Patients always do a double take,” Dr. Bea Kutzler says with a smile. “Then I explain, ‘Yes, she’s my daughter.’ They love it.”
-Dr. Bea Kutzler
But beyond the familiarity of hospital walls, it was the spirit of care, commitment, and compassion that truly shaped Annelise’s approach to medicine. “Seeing my mother’s dedication to her patients and the relationships she built over the years made me realize this was more than just a profession—it was a privilege.”
Now in her final year of the four-year residency, Annelise often finds herself working alongside her mother. Their first delivery together was captured in a photograph—a symbol of a legacy in motion.
The intergenerational dynamic adds a unique depth to patient care. While her mother has decades of experience and a firm, direct approach, Bea says that Annelise brings a fresh perspective and a softer touch. “I think she’s kinder and gentler,” her mother admits with a chuckle. “But patients need both—a compassionate ear and honest guidance.”
The opportunity to train under her mother was an unexpected but welcome twist in Annelise’s journey. “It’s been really special to have her in my residency program,” her mother shares. “I know when she finishes, she’ll be an outstanding doctor because I’ve seen her growth firsthand.”
Their partnership extends beyond patient care and into daily life, especially as Annelise prepares for a new chapter—motherhood. The legacy of balancing medicine and family will continue, with lessons passed down from one generation to the next. “How much time are you taking off when she has the baby?” colleagues ask Bea. Her response is matter of fact: “I didn’t take time off when I had my kids—I’m not starting now!”
While their approaches may differ, their shared commitment remains the same: to serve with knowledge, compassion, and an unwavering dedication to their patients. And perhaps, one day, another generation of Kutzlers will follow in their footsteps.
Until then, the dream team continues—one delivery, one diagnosis, and one heartwarming patient interaction at a time.
