A Foundation of Trust: Dr. Michelle Wilks

Growing up in New York as the youngest of four children, Michelle Anne Wilks, M.D., was always on the receiving end of things. Today, her family inspires her to pay it forward in the compassionate care she gives her patients from the greater Edison and Woodbridge communities.

Her desire to pursue a medical career emerged during college, when she volunteered in a hospital unit for patients with HIV and AIDS. “They needed someone to listen and not judge,” she says. “I loved helping them.” She went on to medical school, completed her residency and began working parttime at a private practice in New Jersey. A referral from her boss led to her position in family medicine at JFK University Medical Center. Soon she’ll be moving to HMH’s new Health & Wellness Center at Metropark.

From the start, trust has been the foundation of her practice. “In medical school, you learn to tell patients to do X, Y and Z - but not everybody’s life fits into X, Y and Z,” she says. “By telling them you understand that their circumstances may not be ideal, by empathizing, you encourage rapport, and that helps with treatment.”

Dr. Wilks recalls one patient who wasn’t exercising. Eventually, the woman explained her situation. “She had a child with a severe disability in an institution, and she sat by their bedside all day. We talked about finding time for self-care.”

Dr. Wilks has shared her approach when supervising residents. She emphasizes reality-checked health advice. Patients may hesitate to admit they aren’t consistent with medications, for instance, so she recently advised a resident to ask, “How many times a week do you miss doses?” instead of “Do you take your medications regularly?”

It worked: The patient admitted to skipping doses and discussed solutions with the resident. Doctors at JFK have a wealth of resources, a key reason Dr. Wilks has valued working there. The same will be true at the new Health & Wellness Center at Metropark. “Patients will get great support,” she says. In her free time, Dr. Wilks enjoys creating healthier versions of treats (think squash muffins). She encourages patients to stay as active as possible: “With spring coming, that’s a great opportunity to get on track with health habits since there are more daylight hours to do things like taking walks.” She follows her own advice, getting outdoors regularly for golf, tubing and hydrobiking with her five children.

She’s grateful for her work family, too. “There’s a reason a lot of us have been with Hackensack Meridian Health for so long,” she says. “Everyone has the patients’ best interests in mind. The nurses, the medical assistants - they’re fantastic. By the time I ask for something, they’ve already taken care of it.

“Spring is on the way. That’s a good time to get to the market, explore the produce that’s newly in season and work it into recipes. Or plan now to try gardening - see your fruits and vegetables grow and then enjoy them.”

Next Steps & Resources

• Meet our source: Michelle Wilks, M.D.
• Make an appointment online with Dr. Wilks or an internal medicine doctor near you, or call 800-822-8905
• Learn more about primary care services at Hackensack Meridian Health.