Three Generations of Dr. Coates

For Dr. Helen Coates, medicine was more than a career; it was a family tradition. “My mother was a doctor, so I grew up in a medical household reading medical journals when I was ten,” she recalls. Her mother, a family physician with a focus on OB-GYN, was a pioneer in her time, especially after the family moved from England to Wyoming where a female doctor was still considered unusual.

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Dr. Coates pursued medicine with the same determination. “When I got divorced, I took back my maiden name. Then my daughter went to dental school and became Dr. Coates too. Now we have three generations of female Dr. Coates’. It’s something I’m very proud of.”

While living in Los Angeles, so her then-husband could complete his PhD at UCLA, Dr. Coates chose USC for medical school. “I thought about other specialties, but nothing appealed. I had been going to prenatal clinics in England since I was small. It was just part of my life!”

A Career Rooted in Service and Adaptability

After graduating from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Dr. Coates practiced medicine at Hawaii Permanente Medical Group (HPMG) in Maui at a time when the island was still developing and medical resources were limited. During her 30 years at HPMG, a respected medical group, Dr. Coates witnessed significant growth and remained grateful for the strong foundation her USC training provided. “It was great having such a solid medical background from USC. I needed to know everything,” she says. “It was a busy place with excellent teachers and a lot of exposure to different people. That experience really prepared me.

“Her career took her to underserved communities across the Southwest, including Las Cruces and Taos, New Mexico where she worked with patients from diverse backgrounds.“I never practiced in the wealthy suburbs,” she says. “I was always drawn to places where I could make a difference.”

In Maui at HPMG, she embraced a cooperative approach to care, integrating traditional healing practices with Western medicine. “We had people from Tonga, Samoa, the Philippines, Japan, the Marshall Islands, all over. I appreciated the lectures we had at USC from traditional Mexican healers. It taught me to keep an open mind.”

Advice for the Next Generation

Reflecting on her time at USC, Dr. Coates emphasizes the value of broad exposure and human connection. “Fifty years ago, we had a massive experience with different people and excellent teachers. If I could do anything differently, I’d focus more on the humanities. The patient’s perception, their fear, denial, or family dynamics, can be just as important as the diagnosis.”

To today’s students, she offers this advice: “Keep an open mind. Learn from every culture. And remember, you’re there to serve.”

Giving Back to Open Doors

Dr. Coates supports scholarships at the Keck School of Medicine because she knows how transformative education can be. “These days, it’s harder. Deserving students deserve a little help. We had a great opportunity, and now we can give others the chance to succeed.”

As you celebrate your Keck School of Medicine Reunion Weekend, please join Dr. Coates in coming back and giving back.