Why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare:

A fateful mission trip to an Indian village hospital resolved my mind to pursue surgery. Observing restricting pain and needless suffering, and then witnessing the miracle of surgery and its immediate impact on an individual and the community as a whole left a lasting impression on me. I believe it was the positive life-changing transformation of surgery on a patient's life that led me to dedicate my life to this profession. My journey as a surgeon has taken me through three different countries on three different continents, and the one thing that I enjoy the most is my relationship with my patients and their families. I feel incredibly grateful and privileged that my patients trust me with their lives, and I strive never to let them down.

What I want my patients to know about me:

I want them to know that I see them and understand each of their unique situations. For so long people with obesity have been stigmatized, and it's time to end this! As a metabolic surgeon, I not only comprehend the effect obesity has on their health but also am acutely aware of its effect on their social life. Everyone deserves another opportunity, and my excellent staff and I are here to help them get that second chance at life. Although obesity and metabolic surgery are my passion, I am also committed to helping patients with reflux disease, esophageal dysmotility, hernias, and gallbladder disease.

What I do when I'm not seeing patients:

I love spending time playing basketball and building Legos with my son and husband. We are avid travelers, and when life permits, we love to explore all our great national parks, experience different cultures, and escape to remote destinations.