1. Why did you pursue medicine?
I decided to go to medical school the year after I graduated from college. I was working as a writer and editor for a consulting company that specialized in health care administration and I became very interested in the clinical side of medicine. I studied English as an undergraduate and so had to go back to school for premed classes.
2. What made you choose pediatrics?
I imagine I was heavily influenced by the careers of my parents who specialized in pediatric surgery and pediatric pulmonology at UMMC’s Children’s Hospital. They taught me that children really do make the best patients.
3. What do you love most about your job?
It is such a pleasure to work with children. They are usually very honest about how they feel about you and they have such unique perspectives and observations. I am fascinated by child development in particular. Being able to watch kids grow up and to see how they learn and change over time is such a privilege.
4. What would you tell a younger girl who wants to be a doctor?
I would certainly encourage young people to consider medicine as a career. As the knowledge base of medical science continues to explode, there are so many exciting opportunities to make a difference in patients’ lives.
