My father was an anesthesiologist, so my interest in medicine was sparked at an early age. In medical school, I realized that I really preferred to get to know patients well, following them for the long-term through their various chapters of life. Family medicine provides the opportunity to build great relationships with my patients and with their whole families, and it’s my favorite part of the job.

Today, it’s rewarding to run my own practice, because I have been able to personally set everything up to make sure my patients feel relaxed and comfortable. Every day, my staff and I work hard to welcome everyone as soon as they call and when they come in. We want them to be satisfied when they leave and we want them to come back often. I have good rapport with my patients; they know that I genuinely care about them and about their well-being, and they’re comfortable confiding in me.

I see patients from age five and up. Often, I will have entire families join the practice—the kids, parents, the grandparents. That’s great because I get a really complete picture of what is going on in all of their lives. As a primary care physician, I am the first person most people go to when something is wrong, and who they come back to after receiving specialist care elsewhere. So I get to coordinate their care and be their advocate with other healthcare providers.

Great primary care is really a partnership between patient and physician. I strive to be a good listener, to promote good communication and a relationship of mutual trust with my patients.