In college, I had the opportunity to spend my Saturdays with a gentleman with Down syndrome. His mother taught me about the struggles that she had faced in obtaining medical care and other services for him, and it made a lasting impression on me. That experience led me first to a career in pediatrics as well as additional training in the care of children with developmental disabilities. Following training, I worked as the director of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) follow-up program at Akron Children’s Hospital for several years before returning to primary care, where I spent the next twenty-three years of my career.

I have always felt drawn to care for vulnerable children and their families. That work has provided me with great personal satisfaction. I strive to help families and children maximize their potential through education and by removing roadblocks to care. All of us are faced with the feeling that we can never do enough for our children, but for those families who have a child with special needs, those feelings are amplified. I enjoy acknowledging the good our parents do for their children, enabling them to produce and celebrate their successes. When the opportunity to work in a NICU follow-up clinic presented itself, it felt like an opportunity to “come home.”

While in private practice, I was honored to be voted one of the top three pediatricians by NKY Magazine (2020, 2021). When I’m not working, my favorite leisure activity is spending time with my friends and family, including multiple grandchildren. I also enjoy woodworking and beekeeping.