What guided your decision to go into medicine and specifically, your chosen field?

I like to work with my hands, I like to help people, and I love solving puzzles.  This makes me a great fit for cancer surgery.

Have you ever been a patient, and if so, what did it teach you?

I have not yet had a lot of challenges, but my husband has had cancer. Helping him work through this has helped me realize how complex and disjointed the system is and how different practices or systems have different cultures.

“Although I am a fan of having a lot of healthcare information available on the web, I worry there is also a lot of misinformation because much of it is not policed for accuracy.”

What are the most important qualities for a doctor to have?

Empathy, good listening skills, and good communication skills are the three most important skills for physicians to have, in my opinion.

What can a patient expect when they have you as a doctor?

Patients can expect that my staff and I will get to know them and their goals and that we will partner with them to try and improve their outcomes with the issues they may be facing.

What is the most important factor in the doctor/patient relationship and why?

Trust is the most important factor between a patient and a surgeon. This is because while the patient is asleep, the patient must trust the surgeon will act as she would have wanted.

What is your favorite activity outside of work?

My favorite activities outside of work are reading, traveling, yoga, and spending time with my husband and two teenaged children. We have a Russian cat named Ivan who is the mascot for our family band called Crooked Wiskers.

What makes you different from other doctors in your field? 

I try to provide excellent service, take my time, and listen.

What do you think about the health and wellness information and resources available online?

Although I am a fan of having a lot of healthcare information available on the web, I worry there is also a lot of misinformation because much of it is not policed for accuracy.

“It is hard to slow down and explain important things that patients deserve to know. Doctorpedia helps make this possible.”

What problem do physicians face that Doctorpedia can help solve?

Doctors want to help and want to educate, but they have more and more computer and paperwork to do each day.  They are pushed to see more and more patients in a day.  It is hard to slow down and explain important things that patients deserve to know. Doctorpedia helps make this possible.

What problems do patients face that Doctorpedia can help solve?

Unfortunately, I think doctor’s practices get over-scheduled so there really isn’t as much time as patients would like to dive into their thoughts.  Doctors talk quickly and might get frustrated when they have to repeat things. Oftentimes, family members would love to understand medical information about their loved one, but they have to work during an appointment.  Doctorpedia solves all of these problems!

If you could spend a day with any person in the world (dead or alive) – who would you choose?

I would spend the day with Angela Merkel if I could spend a day with any person in the world. I really respect her as she was regarded as one of the best (i.e. strongest) leaders of Germany, but yet was also affectionately called “Mamma Merkel,” which to me means that not only could she lead, she could lead like a woman – showing compassion and care while leading. I also respect Angela because she has a character that shows immense growth. One immediately thinks of her as nerdy given her study of quantum chemistry, but she then rose to be the youngest chancellor and the only woman chancellor and only chancellor from East Germany.  To think how much she grew to be able to express herself and lead from such a nerdy start I think is fantastic. Abraham Lincoln would be a very close second as he helped bring the country together (although with a high price) and I feel like we need that cohesive voice right now in American politics.

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a doctor?

I love science and teaching and would probably teach biology at a STEM school.  I also like piano, but am not good enough to be a professional, and not patient enough to teach piano.

What were your previous roles in healthcare and what did you learn from them?

I did a year as an Emergency Medical Technician before I went to medical school to see if I liked medicine.  I decided I did like it and am grateful every day that I can have a job where I can help people and feel fulfilled and that is different every day.