Kristen Ferguson, MD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine physician providing care at the region's first high acuity urgent care, Springfield Clinic Urgent Care Plus.

Dr. Ferguson earned her medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed her emergency medicine residency at University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria. Prior to joining Springfield Clinic, she gained more than 20 years of experience providing emergency medicine care.

Dr. Ferguson's interest in medicine sprouted from her desire to help people and was further inspired by her family members serving as physicians. "I just really enjoy the opportunity to care for people," she says. "I chose emergency medicine specifically because we have an opportunity to effect real change and make a big difference."

Dr. Ferguson cites the satisfaction about getting to help people relieve their pain and walk out feeling better. "That's a good day," she says. "Job satisfaction is really high when you get to do that."