My own experience as a patient put me on the path to becoming a nurse. A difficult pregnancy landed me in the hospital multiple times, where I received care from many great bedside nurses. At the same time, some nurses were less responsive to my physical and emotional needs.

This traumatic experience gave me the drive to make a difference in the lives of people who are in the hospital. I started studying to be a nurse. I worked at Cincinnati Children’s as a patient care aide while getting my degree.

Once I became a registered nurse (RN), I accepted a position at Cincinnati Children’s caring for medical/surgical patients. This included children diagnosed with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and many patients with dermatologic conditions. I love caring for the EB population and providing wound care for multiple conditions.

After working as a bedside RN, I returned to school to get a master’s degree. I’ve always been passionate about dermatology. When I was a teen, I had severe scarring acne that made me self-conscious about my skin. It affected my self-esteem; however, I could not see a dermatology specialist for my acne since our finances were limited and there was no specialist in my area.

I care for all children with skin conditions that hinder their self-esteem. I believe all skin problems can create anxiety about one’s outward appearance, especially in the adolescent years, when teens may be battling a bully or be afraid to call attention to themselves.

I enjoy getting to know the families I work with and watching the kids grow into adults.
I care for each patient as an individual and with respect, providing hope that with treatment, they will feel confident in their skin. The diversity of diseases I manage is very rewarding to me.
Skin conditions I treat include:

• Acne
• Alopecia
• Eczema
• Epidermolysis bullosa
• Impetigo
• Moles
• Molluscum
• Psoriasis
• Warts

I care for patients in outpatient settings, too. I partner with their family and primary care doctor to ensure they get the best care. Together, we create an individualized care plan. I respectfully talk with my patients about what they believe is important. We build a treatment model that is functional, understandable and will lead to the desired outcome. We want to achieve the patient’s goals for their skin and appearance.

In addition to practicing medicine, I also assist with clinical research to improve skin healing for epidermolysis bullosa patients.

When I’m not helping patients, I spend time with my husband and three children. We enjoy hiking, boating, campfires and vacations to the beach.