I was born and raised on Long Island, New York, where I met my husband (on a blind date!) and raised our two children. My daughter graduated from the University of Georgia and will be attending medical school next year. My son is an undergraduate student in Long Beach, California, where he plays volleyball competitively and also coaches a local club team.
I was inspired to become a physician assistant while volunteering as an emergency medical technician. I very much enjoy the fast pace in emergency departments and the wide range of situations and diagnoses that we see on a daily basis. No two days are the same. In addition, I have worked in urgent care, primary care, and general surgery over my more than 16 years of practice.
To stay current in my field and in medicine generally, I go to the online resource UpToDate, read professional journals regularly, participate in continuing medical education programs, consult with other providers, and attend medical conferences, both in Hawaii and on the mainland. In addition, my professional organizations—the American Association of Physician Assistants, the Hawaii Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants—provide members access to the latest developments and research in these fields.
I was drawn to the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group (HPMG) as a place to practice because of its strong presence on Maui and its excellent reputation. I’ve also found that HPMG’s patient-first approach fits well with my own philosophy. My wonderful colleagues and support staff, as well as our access to leading-edge technology—especially the Kaiser Permanente electronic health record system—make it a pleasure to come to work each day. I feel privileged to be a part of this team.
Listening is a critical part of my role. I appreciate hearing patients’ stories and concerns, and getting to understand their beliefs. It’s also important to me to do a thorough job of educating patients on diagnoses and treatment options, and offering reassurances to them and their families that we’re doing the very best we can to improve their health.
To stay physically fit, I walk, hike, run, swim, or stand-up paddleboard almost every day. I love listening to music and enjoy a wide range of genres. In my spare time away from work I enjoy traveling, Sudoku and other brain-teaser puzzles, spending as much quality time with my family as possible, and participating in community and church activities and projects.
