I learn a lot from my patients and I continue to evolve intellectually as a physician. It is the little lessons I enjoy the most from my patient interaction. While I help them with medical management, they teach me sewing methods, new languages and gardening techniques. These things not only strengthen my personal skills but enhance the doctor-patient relationship.
What my Practice looks like today
Primary Care
Name of practice or hospital where you currently work
Southern Medical Group, PA
Specialty
Internal Medicine
What is the best advice you can give a medical student to help them in their path towards being a physician?
The advice I would give a medical student today would be to take advantage of every medical experience you participate in. You can learn valuable lessons from every patient interaction. Volunteer to stay the extra hour, observe an additional case, or see the extra patient. It is the experience that is most valuable and helps mold a skilled physician.
The accomplishment I am most proud of thus far in my career is
The accomplishment I am most proud of thus far in my career is applying the medical knowledge I have learned through school and training on a daily basis. It is rewarding and gratifying to continue to stay current through journals and research to manage patients with the most relevant current available treatment options. Things are always evolving in medicine, and constantly challenging yourself is very fulfilling.
When I look back on my time at VCOM, I think fondly about
When I look back on my time at VCOM, I think fondly about my international travel and medical mission trips. Every medical school experience does not afford you the opportunity to work and learn outside of this US medical system. I learned so much from those experiences, not just from the attending physicians we worked with but also from the patients and the wide range of medical conditions not typically seen here in the US. These experiences also taught me the importance of caring for the most vulnerable population in my community.
I am pleased to be a DO because
I am pleased to be a DO because of the type of physician it has helped me become. For me, there were very personal reasons why I wanted to be a DO. Early on in my life, I learned from my family the type of care and relationships that the osteopathic physician creates between their patients. I believe it translates into a unique physician-patient relationship that improves service.
When I am not working, I enjoy
When I am not working, I enjoy traveling with my family home and abroad. My family and I take lots of vacation and really take the time to enjoy each other’s company. I love learning new skills or mastering things I never thought I could do, like sewing, crafting, or learning new languages.
A career in medicine is worthwhile because
A career in medicine is worthwhile because it is very fulfilling to be able to help people feel better. People come to you to seek answers; more often than not, you can provide them. Another thing I enjoy is the fact that I have the opportunity to meet new people regularly. I learn a lot from my patients, and I continue to evolve intellectually as a physician. It is the little lessons I enjoy the most from my patient interaction. While I help them with medical management, they teach me sewing methods, new languages, and gardening techniques. These things not only strengthen my personal skills but enhance the doctor-patient relationship. I invest in their interest and experiences, and they, in return, trust me. I think this helps me become a better doctor, wife and mother.