In a culture increasingly shaped by bold headlines and instant gratification, Bredesen Hartmann's path to medicine reads more like a carefully composed novel than a viral success story. A 2012 graduate of Centralia High School, Bredesen is about to complete his dermatology residency and step into the next chapter of his life and career—this time, in Milwaukee.

He laughs easily and speaks with clarity, humility, and a quiet appreciation for the twists in his story. Born and raised in Centralia, Bredesen grew up surrounded by veterinary medicine—his parents were both vets—but it was human medicine that called to him. “I liked science and math growing up,” he says, “but once I hit calculus, I knew I wasn’t going to be a math major.” He gravitated instead toward biology, eventually earning a molecular and cellular biology degree at the University of Illinois.

Still, he didn’t walk a straight line into med school. “I didn’t get in the first time I applied,” he says, with no trace of bitterness. Instead, he worked as a scribe in an emergency department—an experience he now credits with helping him thrive once he finally enrolled at SIU’s medical school. “That year of real-world exposure helped me understand what I was walking into,” he says. “It made me better.”

Centralia was never far from his mind. “My mom’s family has deep roots there,” he says. “My great-grandfather owned Miller Lumber, and my uncles and aunts all lived nearby. It’s the kind of town where your name and your handshake matter.” Those values shaped him as much as any course in molecular biology.

At CHS, Bredesen was a three-sport athlete, playing golf, basketball, and baseball. By senior year, he narrowed his focus to golf and baseball—though he regrets giving up basketball. “It’s probably my only high school regret,” he admits. “But I was trying to stay on top of AP classes and just made the call. In hindsight, I probably could’ve handled it all.”

As for academics, he was valedictorian. “I wasn’t in a ton of clubs,” he says, “but sports were everything. That’s where I learned discipline, teamwork, and time management. Looking back, all of that helped me succeed in medicine.”

Dermatology wasn’t part of his plan at first—it didn’t fully click until his fourth year of medical school. A mix of patient relationships, procedural variety, and long-term care appealed to him. “You get to treat skin cancer, but also acne, eczema, psoriasis—conditions that really impact a person’s day-to-day life. You see your patients regularly, build relationships. You’re not just a one-and-done surgeon.”

Now preparing to join a Milwaukee-area clinic, Bredesen is ready to practice independently. “It’s a little nerve-wracking,” he admits, “but I’ve been training for this a long time. You hope you don’t miss anything, but you also trust that you’ve learned to recognize what matters.”

His girlfriend, also in medicine, is beginning her pediatric residency in Milwaukee. Together, they’re stepping into new rhythms of life in a larger city—though not too far from home. “I’ve spent almost my entire life in Southern and Central Illinois,” he says. “Milwaukee will be the biggest city I’ve lived in, but it still feels manageable. And I’ll be close to my sister in Chicago, plus friends from college.”

If he could give advice to his younger self at Centralia, it wouldn’t be about dermatology or GPA. “I’d tell myself to play that last season of basketball,” he says with a smile. “But honestly, I’d also say that setbacks are okay. Not getting in the first time taught me resilience. I think everyone needs one of those moments, something that humbles you and forces you to ask, ‘What now?’”

He doesn’t have illusions about cosmetic dermatology. While he might offer a little Botox or laser treatment now and then, it’s the medical side of dermatology that speaks to him. “Helping a kid with cystic acne or a farmer with recurring skin cancers—that’s where I feel like I make the most difference,” he says.

In a culture that often worships speed, Bredesen Hartmann’s story is a reminder that growth takes time, resilience matters, and deep roots can carry you a long way. Whether it’s on the golf course, in the clinic, or looking back on the gym where he once played ball, he carries Centralia with him—not just as a memory, but as a foundation.