Why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare:

Medicine attracted me because it blends so many things. It is, first and foremost, a science. I continue to study the human body in all of its complexities and variations. It has been humbling in that the learning never really ends. It is also an art: I learned how to deliver a baby, listen to the heart, or make a diagnosis. Medicine involves years of training and being able to sift through infinite shades of gray. It is a humanity; communicating with patients is imperative, which guides asking the right questions, AND listening to their answers. That can often bring you to the diagnosis before an examination takes place.

What I want my patients to know about me:

I am a good listener. I really like to make diagnoses, especially rare ones. I think outside the box. I view patients as partners in health where mutual decisions can be made. I am non-judgmental.

What I do when I'm not seeing patients:

I love being with my family. We like to hike, travel, eat-in, and play games. I also love classical music. I have a wonderful piano that I play for relaxation. My favorite composers are Debussy, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Liszt. I am an intermediate player and extremely bashful about playing in public (something I am trying to work on). I also like to drive really really fast. Fortunately, I can take this passion to the track where I race my car a few times a year. I am an avid gardener. I am studying the sustainability techniques set forth by Rainer and West.