Shelby Koch, MD

Provider Details

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

I was raised in the small town of Ephrata, Washington. It’s located in central Washington, east of the Cascades.

Undergraduate College:

Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. I attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK for my Master’s in Native American Studies.

Where did you attend Medical School?

Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

Why did you choose PTHA?

PTHA’s emphasis on community and Indigenous health makes me proud to be a part of this program. I am passionate about tribal health and broad-spectrum family medicine. I feel that PTHA fosters a very supportive atmosphere between residents and faculty, as well as between the different residency programs in the area with shared didactic sessions. Being in the Tacoma area also allows easy access to the outdoors and I’ll be close to friends and family

What are your interests?

Professionally, I am passionate about harm reduction and medication for opioid use disorder, reproductive medicine, and gender-affirming care. Personally, I am interested in transportation equity – making it safer to walk, bike, and roll around cities; birdwatching; cooking and baking; and reading. I also like to rock climb – both indoor gym climbing and outdoors.

What are some fun facts about you?

I summitted Loowit (Mt. St. Helens) and Koma Kulshan (Mt. Baker) on skis. I have broken my wrists three separate times (left wrist twice and right wrist once) – hopefully never again! I’m learning Japanese and Choctaw. I swam competitively for 13 years and my best stroke was the butterfly.