Soon after I was born, my family moved from the Central Valley of California to a small town in Oregon surrounded by berry fields. As a child I loved the beach and playing in the ocean. I went to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where I also did my pediatrics internship and residency. After living for some years in San Francisco and then Oregon, my husband and I were delighted to move to Maui to live our life outdoors and raise our children in the endless sunshine.
I grew up hearing stories about the ingenuity and determination it took to practice medicine with limited resources in southern Africa. This inspired me to pursue a profession that involved service and creativity that could be brought to places and people in need around the world. The specialty of pediatrics appealed to me because I saw parents’ persistent love for their children and the incredible resilience and capacity for life and laughter that children have, even in illness.
I stay up-to-date in my field by attending medical conferences and reading professional journals, including the American Academy of Pediatrics Grand Rounds, which summarizes recent key studies. I’m a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and of its Section on Hospital Medicine.
In the past I worked for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California and was very impressed with the continuity of care there, the focus on preventive health, and patient access to care. In Hawaii I’ve found the same, along with updated technology and great support staff.
My approach to medicine is to work with each child at a developmentally appropriate level and to engage the family in all aspects of the child's care. I enjoy connecting with my patients through play and laughter, and I look forward to the little stories each child has to tell.
I stay physically fit by doing regular exercise, spending time outdoors every day, hiking, swimming in the ocean, and diving through waves. I’m nurtured by laughing and enjoying playtime with my children, having meaningful conversations with my family, enjoying quiet time in nature, and discovering new vistas across the beautiful Hawaiian landscape. I also like to cook and bake yummy meals for my family.
