Undergrad Institution; Degree and Major:
Rice University, BA, Biochemistry
Medical School:
University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center
In practice since:
2016
Your Specialty:
Pediatric Otolaryngology
Where and for how many years did you train AFTER medical school:
5 years-Otolaryngology Residency, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
1 year-Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA
2 years-Health Services Research Fellowship, Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA + Master of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
How did you choose your specialty?
I love the balance between medicine and surgery in otolaryngology. I also love taking care of kids and helping parents through difficult times and decisions. These things, in combination with the challenging anatomy and wide variety of pathology and surgical skills needed in the field, made pediatric otolaryngology the right choice for me.
What do you like MOST, and like LEAST, about your specialty?
MOST-I love dramatically improving a child’s quality of life and helping them live life to the fullest.
LEAST-I dislike the sad social situations that you often see being a pediatric physician.
In your opinion, what attributes are important in anyone choosing this specialty?
In my opinion, this field requires dedication, empathy, and patience. When quality of life is paramount in your field, you have to be willing to take time and seek out the patient/caregiver’s values and make sure that you treat them with the treatment that will give them the best outcome that fits their value system and goals of care.
Hobbies/special interests:
Dance, music, sports (Football, Basketball), reading, movies and musicals, spending time with my husband and 3 kids