Biography

Dr. Pletz received her medical training from the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) in Seattle, where she also studied public, global, and indigenous health. Dr. Pletz joined University Health as a full-spectrum family physician and UMKC Department of Community & Family Medicine as Assistant Professor and Core Faculty in March 2023. In July 2023, she was appointed as Medical Director of University Health Lakewood Addiction Recovery Services. Prior to this, she held appointments as Clinical Professor with the UWSOM, and Faculty at UW-affiliated Providence St. Peter Family Medicine Residency and Chehalis Rural Training Program where she helped lead lifestyle medicine (as a diplomate), addiction medicine, labor and delivery learning culture, and spirituality and wellness curricular efforts.

Dr. Pletz has special interest in integrative approaches to health of the whole human person, and the broader therapeutic understanding and “toolbox” that this affords; helping mitigate the devastating effects of addiction on persons, families and communities; increasing access to high-quality healthcare through respectful partnership for underserved rural and diverse communities; and offering the full breadth of Family Medicine to patients and learners through ongoing work in obstetrical and adult inpatient units as well as in clinic.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Pletz loves learning and getting to know people through listening and engaging big questions; outdoor adventuring; dabbling in sourdough and gardening; reading; singing, especially Orthodox Christian prayers; and doing all this and more with her husband and three young children!