Profile

1) As an Emergency Physician I evaluate and manage patients in an Emergency Department. Patients may present with anything from a sore throat or a sprained ankle to a heart attack or multiple broken bones. 

Most Emergency Physicians work in community hospital Emergency Departments.  However, some may choose to work at a trauma center or a children’s hospital. 

2) As a Bariatric Physician, I evaluate and manage patients in a clinic who are overweight or obese. This is not as simple as our culture has traditionally believed.

There are various metabolic, genetic and neurochemical differences which often contribute to a person’s struggle with weight loss. Lifestyle changes are part of the management. However, medication is often an integral and necessary component of treatment. Also, dietary recommendations are not “one-size-fits-all,” and traditional weight loss diets are less effective than many newer recommendations. Finally, there may be psychological issues to deal with.

1) a typical emergency department  2) a typical clinic

Various

Good communication skills are important in both Emergency Medicine and Bariatric Medicine in order to better understand and manage patients. 

In the Emergency Department, fine motor skills are necessary to perform procedures such as laceration repairs, lumbar punctures (spinal taps), chest tube placements, etc. 

Also, being able to react quickly and “think on your feet”, yet retain composure during stressful emergency situations is paramount. 

In Bariatric Medicine, patience and empathy are needed, as well as knowledge of nutrition and the various physiologic components of appetite and metabolism.

The work schedule of an Emergency Physician is variable and includes many night and weekend shifts.  As a full-time Emergency Physician, I previously worked 9-12 hour shifts 3-4 times per week. 

After starting a family, I found it difficult to spend so many nights and weekends away from my children. 

For this reason, I began exploring Bariatric Medicine.  Because I am a physician partner in my clinic with one other physician, I am able to work part-time and set my own schedule. 

I typically work 8:30 am until 3:30 or 4:00 pm 2 days per week & 8:30 am until 1:30 pm 1 day per week.  Currently I also work 1 twelve to eighteen hour shift per week in an Emergency Department which has a relatively lower patient volume.

Occasionally, for CME (continuing medical education) conferences.

Helping people.

Only the time it takes away from my family.

God, children, the strength I see in those whom are less fortunate.

My mother who helped me to believe in myself, and my father who is a Family Physician and has dedicated his life to medicine and helping others.

Believe in yourself, work hard and don’t lose sight of your goals.

Spend time with family & friends, exercise.

Faith, family, friends.  Being physically active through running, cycling, skiing, playing sports with my kids.

This is my biggest challenge.  I must make daily sacrifices both at work and at home, trying to balance being a good physician with being a good wife and mother.

At age 9 I decide I wanted to become a doctor.  I never wavered from that decision.  I chose to major in communications (while also taking the required pre-med classes) knowing that communication skills would be beneficial as a physician, and to diminish my fear of public speaking. I had also been advised by others in medicine that the required science prerequisites for pre-med would provide an adequate foundation for medical school.

Being a patient with a chronic illness since childhood, I have benefited from the dedication of several outstanding physicians.  I also have a father, older sister, and older brother whom are all physicians and have served as motivational role models.