About Me

I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and am a testimony to the adage, “it takes a village to raise a child." My mother was the centerpiece of my support system, but other family members, friends, neighbors, and teachers have lent helping hands everywhere I've been. For my medical degree I went to Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in East Lansing and did my internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Hawaii’s beauty, diversity, and aloha spirit makes the long distance between here and the Midwest worth it.

About my practice

I knew I wanted to have a career that would allow me to have a significant and beneficial effect on my community. Since I’ve always enjoyed academic challenges, especially in the sciences, medicine seemed like the perfect choice. During my residency I enjoyed stabilizing acute medical crises and being able to help people when they were most afraid. This led me to specialize in hospital medicine.

To stay current in my field and in medicine overall, I read the weekly newsletter put out by the American College of Physicians and access the online resource UpToDate. I also attend professional conferences, participate in continuing medical education programs, and consult colleagues.

At the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group I found a team of dedicated and supportive physicians who demonstrate great leadership and concern for their teams and colleagues. Up-to-date technology and helpful support staff also contribute to making this a great place to practice medicine. The positive relationships among all of the staff members involved in the hospitalization process allow us to work as a team and ensure seamless care for our patients.

I believe that illness is influenced by a person’s life situation. Knowing more about a patient’s experiences helps me to develop the most appropriate and timely care plan.

How I thrive

In my leisure time I take long walks and go on scenic hikes, prepare colorful meals, watch movies, pray, meditate, and read self-help books. I enjoy traveling and learning about the culture and history of those places, and I enjoy meeting fellow travelers. My highest priority is spending quality time with my family. Sharing my feelings helps me to release any stress I might feel and results in more meaningful and nurturing relationships with the important people in my life.