Where do you call home?
I grew up in the Cincinnati area, attended college and medical school in the Dayton, OH area, and moved to Toledo for residency. Since 2015, my husband and I have called Texas home.
What’s your specialty or area of expertise?
I am a board-certified adolescent medicine physician.
What first inspired you to become a doctor?
I always wanted to be a doctor since a very young age. My mother will tell you that one of my favorite toys as a kid was the black plastic doctors bag with the plastic reflex hammer and stethoscope inside. I was inspired by my pediatrician and that was the path I pursued to this day.
What advice do you have for medical students and residents wanting to incorporate advocacy into their day-to-day?
I try to actively encourage all our trainees to find some way to incorporate advocacy into their professional careers. This can take the path of being involved in specialty societies, state or national medical associations, or just simply writing op-eds for your local newspaper. Legislators often do not have a medical background so our expertise is important as they make policy decisions.
What current policy issue especially motivates you to be an advocate?
Legislators trying to criminalize the provision of gender affirming medical care for patients under age 18. There are many false narratives pushed by groups with a specific agenda that could really harm our gender diverse youth. The science is very clear about these youth. This also injects the state into the patient-provider relationship, attempting to influence the patient’s decision and undermining my ability to provide medical care that is safe and evidence based.
How have the events of the past year shaped how you view being a physician advocate?
The events of 2020 have only strengthened my resolve to be a physician advocate. Our country witnessed several groups trying to discredit science and the practice of medicine in the midst of a global pandemic. In addition, some states used the pandemic as an excuse to reduce funding to programs that are important for those with limited access to healthcare. Lastly, as a country that does not have universal healthcare for its citizens, we witnessed unprecedented levels of patients losing their health insurance due to loss of a job. Therefore, it is more important than ever for me to continue to fight for safe, affordable, and evidence based care for my patients.
What is bringing you joy these days?
I have tried to use the last several months to find joy with family and friends. The loss of social events that used to fill the calendar has allowed me not only to spend more time with my husband but also to catch up with family and friends that I didn’t have as much time to see before. This time has also been a reminder to reflect on the things that do bring us joy in order to help frame what our post-pandemic life may look like in terms of priorities.