Bio
What are your specialties and certifications?
Fellow of American College of Obstetricans and Gynecologists.
Why did you go into medicine? Why did you choose your particular field?
I had an interest in women's health in general and enjoyed the combination
of inpatient, office practice, obstetrics, and surgery.
What are some of your clinical interests?
Minimally invasive surgery including robotic assisted procedures, infertility
management, and general obstetrics.
What do you love about practicing medicine?
I love the relationships I can develop with patients over the course of
a pregnancy and then the relationship going on into later life after the
reproductive years. I also love the feeling of performing a surgery or
other procedure to improve the quality of life for a patient.
"I hope my patients know that I deeply care about how they are treated,
how they respond to treatment, and how they recover from that treatment."
What is your philosophy of care?
To provide the best care to every patient whom I evaluate through the office
or hospital setting.
What do you most want people to know about the way you practice medicine?
I hope my patients know that I deeply care about how they are treated,
how they respond to treatment, and how they recover from that treatment.
What can your patients expect during an appointment?
My patients can expect to get my undivided attention to the medical problem
or problems whether that takes 5 minutes or 50 minutes.
What do you wish you could tell every patient (and they would actually
do) and why?
Please get your recommended preventative care screenings because disease
may be identified and treated early with a better chance of recovery.
What have your patients taught you?
My patients have taught me to be humble. Medical diseases do not always
behave as expected and although I am highly educated, I cannot always
predict the course of a medical disease.
Who is someone you admire, and why?
I admire my mother. It was not until I had my own children that I realized
how much she sacrificed for me and my brothers when we were growing up.
And now when I help women get through pregnancies that are difficult,
I admire those women as well for the sacrifices that are made during pregnancy
and after childbirth.
Where did you grow up?
A small town in Central Virginia called Amherst.
What brought you to the Bitterroot Valley?
My husband's love of the outdoors. This is a wonderful place to live
if you love to hunt, or fish, or hike. It is also a wonderful place to
raise a young family. My family feels very safe here.
"In urban settings, I might treat a patient and never see them again.
Here, I can expect to treat patients and see them at the market or pharmacy.
It feels good to know that I have done something to improve the lives
of the people around me."
What do you enjoy about living and working in a small community like ours?
I like the relationships I can build with my patients, coworkers, and other
staff members. In urban settings, I might treat a patient and never see
them again. Here, I can expect to treat patients and see them at the market
or pharmacy. It feels good to know that I have done something to improve
the lives of the people around me.
Living in such a close-knit community, how do you create a successful work–life balance?
It can be difficult at times to separate work from my personal life. I
try to dedicate time to my family and we are a group of three OBGYNs.
There are times when my patients are seen by my partners to allow me time
to dedicate to my family. My family has been very supportive and understanding
during those times when work takes me away from my responsibilities at home.
What are some of your non-professional interests and favorite hobbies?
Reading, gardening, playing with my children and my dogs, baking and preparing
meals with my family.
Is there anything about you that might surprise people?
I love to bake desserts. I also grow my own vegetables and harvest and
can them. Although I don't have a lot of time to dedicate to it any
more, I know how to sew and made my own wedding dress and my bridesmaids' dresses.
What would be your personal motto?
To treat each patient to the best of my ability during every encounter.
Do you have pets?
Yes, I have two German Short-haired Pointers, a Jack Russell Terrier, two
horses, a rabbit, and three goats!