Undergrad Institution; Degree and Major:
Vanderbilt University; B.S. Molecular Biology and Chemistry
Medical School:
Vanderbilt University
In practice since:
2004
Your Specialty:
Internal Medicine (Hospital Medicine)
Where and for how many years did you train AFTER medical school:
3 year Residency at University of Washington, Seattle followed by 1 year Chief Resident, Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA
How did you choose your specialty?
I debated between Medicine, Pediatrics, and Med-Peds. I ultimately decided on Medicine because I enjoyed my experiences in medical school on the inpatient services and liked the complexities of problem solving medical conditions in adults.
What do you like MOST, and like LEAST, about your specialty?
- Most: Being challenged by complexities of illness and the varied ways they can present and the opportunity to educate patients on their illnesses
- Least: Dealing with the "difficult" patient can be stressful
In your opinion, what attributes are important in anyone choosing this specialty?
- Curiosity
- Compassion/empathy
- Communication skills
- Ability to work as a team
Hobbies/special interests:
I watch a lot of sports and TV; reading and watching sci-fi/mysteries