Article by Maria Weidich

Photos courtesy of Yellowstone Surgery Center 

Before the operating room lights come on at Yellowstone Surgery Center, the day is already in motion. Coffee is poured, emails are checked, and workouts are squeezed in. Then, somewhere in those quiet early-morning hours, the mental shift begins, from the rhythms of everyday life to the precision and focus required inside the OR. 

Here in Billings, six women: Dr. Kristin Beaver, Dr. Katie Hatch, Dr. Rachel Ott, Dr. Jennifer Bennett, Dr. Veena Sankar, and Dr. Heather Hansen make that shift every day. As surgeons and anesthesiologists, they’re entrusted with some of the most critical moments in their patients’ lives. Outside of work, they're navigating the same complexity the rest of us are: family, relationships, schedules, and the ongoing negotiation between professional and personal. 

Christi Beals, Senior Director of Clinical Operations and Human Resources, notes that just 20% of Yellowstone Surgery Center's providers are female. "They are some of the very best providers in their fields," she says, "and they have chosen to make Billings their home and dedicate their lives to serving others." 

The Morning Shift 

No two mornings look exactly the same for these women, but each starts early and with intention. Whether it's a shared breakfast with family, a quick workout, or a review of the day's cases, those early hours set the tone for everything that follows. 

Anesthesiologist Dr. Beaver is up around 4:30 a.m. to fit in a workout, enjoy coffee, spend time in daily devotion, and get ready for the day. "I have three young kids who are busy with extracurriculars," she says. "So if the workout doesn't happen first thing, it doesn't happen!" 

For General Surgeon Dr. Katie Hatch, mornings looked especially different when her five children, including two sets of twins, were young. "I was notorious for showing up late," she laughs. "And if my partners gave me grief, I would tell them I had accomplished more already in the first two hours than they would all day!" Now that her children are teenagers, the pace has shifted, but mornings remain just as full.  

Dr. Ott occasionally brings her children to surgical rounds and meetings. "They love to see the hospital and learn how medicine works," she says. "It teaches them that a well-rounded work-family life involves coordination, adaptation, and organization. My youngest wants to 'spend the night' in the call room with me, so she can hear the helicopter land and know her mom is off to a trauma patient evaluation." 

For others, the overlap is less visible but just as meaningful. "I've had three babies, three epidurals, and three very different labors," Dr. Beaver shares. "I'm quick to tell my patients I know exactly what they're feeling, and it's definitely increased my empathy for anxiety around surgery and anesthesia." 

Dr. Bennett describes a similar shift after becoming a mother. "Having surgery is very stressful for people, and I try to take an extra couple of minutes to make sure they feel safe and cared for," she says. "I find it most meaningful to be able to help patients through an important and stressful time in their lives." 

 Practicing medicine constantly reminds Dr. Hatch that every patient belongs to someone. "The car wreck in Trauma Bay 1, the gallbladder in ED 8, or the breast cancer patient waiting for me in the clinic…each of these represents someone's family; someone's father, mother, or child," she says. "I want to treat my patients like I would want my family members treated." 

Beyond The Scrubs 

Outside the hospital, these women's lives look a lot like anyone else's. "Billings is a small town," says Dr. Sankar. "Seeing patients and coworkers when I'm out and around is always a nice surprise. I love seeing people not in scrubs living their life!" 

Stepping away from medicine often means intentionally slowing down. Dr. Ott lifts weights and does resistance training. "Being strong is powerful," she says, "and allows for longevity in our careers." Dr. Hansen prefers to decompress outside. "Usually that means walking my dog with my husband and recapping our days," she says.  

The Weight They Carry 

The influence of medicine doesn't end when the workday does. Behind the scenes are rearranged schedules, stretched support systems, and difficult tradeoffs between professional responsibility and personal time. 

Dr. Bennett says balancing family life with a career that demands early mornings and little flexibility is an ongoing challenge, often requiring help from others to get her children to school or cared for when they're sick. 

For Dr. Hansen, one of the few pediatric orthopedic surgeons in Montana and the only one serving a region spanning hundreds of miles, patient needs frequently come before her own schedule. "I feel great dedication to the children in Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota, and this often means my personal life suffers for me to treat pediatric patients outside of my regular working hours. But if I am in town, I will take care of your child." 

Humor and perspective still find their way in. "People are always surprised that I don't have children myself," Dr. Hansen adds. "I tell them that I get to see the whole gamut of pediatrics in a day, from newborns to teenagers, and that's enough for me!" 

All six agree the balancing act is ongoing, imperfect, and something they've made peace with. "Sometimes choosing one path means you've missed another," Dr. Sankar says. "But it's all part of a life well lived." 

What Matters Most 

Each of these providers describes, in her own way, how medicine has deepened her appreciation for time, relationships, and the moments that matter most outside the OR. 

For Dr. Hatch, the work is a constant reminder that "someday" is never guaranteed. "In surgery, we see that life can change in an instant…a car crash, cancer diagnosis, a surprise illness," she says. "What starts as an ordinary day can be the day that everything changes. It makes me appreciate the here and now." 

Dr. Ott says trauma surgery has shaped the way she shows up at home. "Trauma surgery teaches one that life is very precious," she shares. "Every moment spent with family, even driving to activities or snuggling in bed, is a special moment to slow down and absorb one another's daily stories and experiences." 

That perspective became personal for Dr. Sankar after losing both her father and sister to long illnesses. "Being on the other side of receiving care has definitely made me a more compassionate physician," she says. "It's a full-time job navigating our healthcare system, and I know by the time a patient sees me for an injection, they've jumped through many hoops. I do my best to give them the time and attention they deserve." 

As Beals sees it, those experiences outside the clinic are exactly what make these women so effective inside the operating room. "Their passions create the fabric of who they are, what they stand for, and what is important to them," she says. "It's easy to forget that doctors are also human beings, people with feelings, obligations, and a life outside of work. These women are amazing humans." Christi Beals, Yellowstone Surgery Center Senior Director of Clinical Operations 

Originally printed in the July 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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