Why I Treat Children
I think there are few things that tug more at our collective heartstrings than seeing a sick child. I believe that there is an innate and powerful desire within all of us to help children recover from illnesses, injuries, trauma or any other painful experience, and to help them get back to their usual selves. As a general pediatrician that specializes in inpatient medicine, I take this responsibility seriously, and I get tremendous joy in helping children recover and thrive. Kids are so resilient and they bounce back from so much — it’s truly inspiring to be a part of it.
What I'm Passionate About
I’m passionate about delivering high-quality medical care to every patient and family I interact with. I believe effective communication is the best way to reach that goal. I strive to listen attentively to my patients and their parents, so I may be in the best position to address their needs and concerns. I try to include parents in the medical decision-making process for their children, and to not create plans that are confusing or difficult to follow. Additionally, high-quality medical care requires effective communication between all members of the care team, so I make it a point to ensure that physicians, nurse practitioners, bedside nurses, social workers/case managers, students and all other members of the medical team are on the same page regarding each patient’s daily plan of care. I also believe that all doctors (especially pediatricians) are lifelong teachers and lifelong students. I am passionate about teaching medical students and pediatric resident physicians during bedside rounds, lectures and small group discussions. I enjoy augmenting these traditional teaching methods with simulation-based training. I am a certified Clinical Simulation Instructor, and also teach courses in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) to physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers. I’m a firm believer that simulation-based training and experiential learning helps us anticipate problems, and be better prepared when an emergency truly arises. Practice makes perfect.
How I Try to Make A Difference
Being in the hospital with a sick child is usually a frightening and stressful time for any family. I try to decrease some of that anxiety for our families by listening attentively and patiently, communicating effectively, and leading our multidisciplinary team of providers to work together and deliver exceptional care to each patient and family we are fortunate to meet.
