I have been interested in medicine since junior high school, when a teacher ignited my curiosity in science, especially in the area of human anatomy and genetics. In medical school, my first rotation as a third-year student was pediatrics and my first patient was an 8-month-old child with failure to thrive. I've never forgotten how happy the parents were when we were able to identify the problem and help them take steps to healthy feeding.

No other medical or surgical specialty was as rewarding as my first rotation, and in the decades since graduation, I've never regretted choosing pediatrics.

I practice general pediatrics for inpatients, which includes inpatient care for children with complex medical conditions. I listen first and speak later, find common ground with patients and their families, and always treat them with respect. I believe that it’s important to stay calm and know when to stand or not to stand firm.

When I’m not helping patients and families, I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my grandchildren. I also have a wide range of interests, including classical music, musical theater and stage theater. I like impressionistic art, traveling, building model sailing ships and reading about history — particularly early medieval times and prerevolutionary America.