Since the age of seven, my dream was to become a doctor. Although, I did not know any female physicians growing up, I knew I had a passion for helping people. I was the kid who tried to stop the bullies from harassing other children, as I felt the need to protect them. Caring and hard work was instilled in me at a young age by my parents. They came to an unknown country having lost everything in war torn Europe with a pioneer spirit, ready to roll up their sleeves and work hard in order to raise their children in a free country.
In college, I realized my love for science. My passion for the material, as well as my desire to help others, convinced me that becoming a doctor was my calling. My greatest lament is when I was away at medical school, my father became very ill and I learned the importance of a primary care physician first hand. Our family doctor had retired, and my father did not have a primary care doctor to coordinate his care -someone in charge. He had many specialists who did not appear to communicate well with each other. Sadly, he did not survive. To this day, I still wonder if he had a good, caring internist, the outcome may have been different. What was missing is in my father’s case is what motivates me to be the best possible internal medicine physician I can be. I never want a patient or patients' family members to feel alone or helpless.
I chose internal medicine because I found it to be the most challenging. I love being a detective trying to figure out what is wrong with a patient. This is where internists thrive. We are the front line of medicine - your most important doctor. If you can imagine an old fashioned carriage wheel, we are the center of the wheel and the consultants are the spokes. If a spoke breaks, you can continue driving on the wheel; however, if the center breaks the entire wheel collapses. As a primary care physician, it is my job to keep your wheels turning.
As an Internist you need curiosity,
