As a general pediatrician in primary care, I see families in our outpatient clinic. I feel that I can make a difference working with children and I believe patient care should involve the family. When I make recommendations, I try to make sure it is something the family can do and support.

At a young age, I was inspired by my own pediatrician. She had a great personality and I wanted to be just like her. I was able to shadow her when I was in the eighth grade and was fascinated by all she had to learn and how she was able to help so many people.

I volunteered at Cincinnati Children’s when I was young and realized I loved talking with people and helping others. Once I was in medical school, I rotated through each specialty and found myself drawn back to pediatrics. During my residency training, I realized that I preferred a clinic atmosphere compared to inpatient care. I liked knowing about a variety of things, so I chose primary care where the patient population and problems I addressed would be diverse and interesting.

During graduation from residency, I received the Primary Care Award for my dedication to the specialty. As an attending, I also received the Shining Star Award within our primary care office. This award is given out monthly to recognize those with an exceptional work ethic and dedication to our families.

As a primary care doctor, I try to take my time with families to explain the treatment plan. For example, if I think a referral should be placed, I carefully explain why the extra appointment is necessary. When starting different medications, I try to start medications that will work best with the family's schedule. I cannot dictate what a family should do, but I feel families follow treatment plans better when they understand the situation and feel involved in decision making. It should always be a team effort.

In our clinic, we provide quality patient care to a diverse patient population. We also have many resources to help families in their daily lives, such as a food pantry. Our goal is to help children be as healthy as possible, and we know that goes beyond just treating them medically.

In my research, I’m working on projects, including telehealth and outreach. One goal is to better understand how telehealth can positively impact the primary care setting. We are also working on how to best contact families when they are overdue for a visit.

In my free time, I enjoy traveling and trying new restaurants. My biggest joy is spending time with family and friends.