Undergrad Institution; Degree and Major:
Princeton University, BSE, Mechanical Engineering with certificate in Engineering Biology
Medical School:
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
In practice since:
2009
Your Specialty:
Internal Medicine
Where and for how many years did you train AFTER medical school:
Emory University—J. Willis Hurst Residency in Internal Medicine; 3 years
How did you choose your specialty?
I researched cell adhesion to microtextured titanium surfaces to improve hip implants as an undergraduate engineer, convinced I would be an orthopedic surgeon. Quickly into medical school I realized the field wasn't for me. I thought seriously about pediatrics, especially pediatric oncology. In my third year I developed a passion for ob/gyn and did an elective sub-I in L&D in addition to my required medicine sub-I. Although I loved OB, something didn't fit. Meanwhile, internal medicine kept gently calling, popping up in the back of my mind until finally I realized it was the right field for me. I felt like myself there, and other people approached patient care the same way I hoped to. Throughout residency in internal medicine, I thought about different specialties—critical care, ID, heme/onc—but sometimes having that many interests really means you're a generalist at heart.
What do you like MOST, and like LEAST, about your specialty?
- MOST: Longitudinal patient relationships, always learning more, having to think and research to solve a question, having time to talk with my patients, the variety of cases, lifestyle
- LEAST: Realizing I will NEVER know enough!
Attributes important in choosing this specialty:
- Patience and compassion.
- Humility—you will never know all of internal medicine.
Hobbies/special interests:
- Special interests at work include social medicine, patient advocacy, and medical ethics
- Hobbies: Going to the zoo, playground, and library with my two young sons, baseball, travel