Bio
What are your specialties and certifications?
Board certified in Family medicine (newborn care to geriatrics). Certified
Senior Aviation Medical Examiner for FAA flight physicals.
Why did you go into medicine? Why did you choose your particular field?
Truth be told, I enjoy helping people. I had wanted to be a doctor since
I was young and am thrilled to be fulfilling this dream. I chose family
medicine because I enjoyed the full spectrum of care that it offers. I
am drawn towards treating the whole person, working as a team, with a
patient, towards better health. Having been a doctor at MDMH now over
ten years, I have found it very fulfilling to truly practice full ‘family
medicine,’ treating whole families.
What are some of your clinical interests?
I enjoy managing the variety of cares that come from Family Medicine. I
am interested in wellness care (from newborn and children to adults of
all ages.) I am comfortable managing numerous common medical conditions
including Diabetes, Hypertension, low thyroid, depression and anxiety.
I am interested in managing geriatric conditions, dementias and end-of-life
care. I am comfortable with sports injuries and have a passion for aviation medicine.
What do you love about practicing medicine?
I love the constant learning, being able to help others, the complexities
that the human body offers. I love the interactions, becoming part of a team.
"I believe strongly in treating the whole person: physically, emotionally,
and spiritually."
What is your philosophy of care?
My philosophy of care is teamwork. A patient and a doctor should be able
to work together as a team towards better health. It requires work on
both sides. I also believe strongly in treating the whole person: physically,
emotionally, and spiritually.
What do you most want people to know about the way you practice medicine?
As stated before, teamwork.
What can your patients expect during an appointment?
A smile, laughter and a listening ear, but equally an underlying agenda
to work towards a treatment plan throughout the appointment. I prefer
to work a few problems through to a plan instead of many concerns with
little direction; when there are many concerns I try to meet more frequently
so that they all get addressed in time. I strive to be timely so I also
expect timeliness; I do however hope that each person understands if a
previous patient required extra time, I will extend to each following
one the same if needed.
What do you wish you could tell every patient (and they would actually
do) and why?
Think of your health as a commodity that will be wasted if you don’t
take the time to care for it. I cannot care for you WELL if you do not
choose to care for yourself. I love to work as a teammate and cheer you on.
What have your patients taught you?
To slow down. That a new diagnosis may seem small to me but can be devastating
to them. That most people do not want another medication. The value of
silence and a hug.
Who is someone you admire, and why?
My dad, for always finding the positive in a situation and never giving
up on a person. My mom, for personifying the word ‘tenacious’
in everything she does, and passing that trait down to me. And both for
raising me in a Christian atmosphere focusing on health.
Where did you grow up?
A lot of places. Southeast mostly.
What brought you to the Bitterroot Valley?
I always wanted to move to Montana and when a recruiter brought us here,
we fell in love with the hospital, community and area.
What do you enjoy about living and working in a small community like ours?
Small town atmosphere. Close-knit families. Small clinic and hospital with
great specialists and colleagues that support each other. The abundance
of outdoor activities.
"I fly a plane and am not too shabby at target practice. I enjoy running
long distances. I love singing and almost anything musical."
Living in such a close-knit community, how do you create a successful work–life balance?
There’s no magic. It’s forming strong boundaries, taking effort
to focus on whatever is in front of you for that moment. Learning to say
‘no.’ Taking time for my own physical, emotional and spiritual
health, and that if my family.
What are some of your non-professional interests and favorite hobbies?
Interacting with my family, raising children, being a wife. I enjoy being
outdoors, challenging myself.
Is there anything about you that might surprise people?
I fly a plane and am not too shabby at target practice. I enjoy running
long distances. I love singing and almost anything musical.
What would be your personal motto?
"Being negative only makes a difficult journey more difficult. You
may be given a cactus but you don’t have to sit on it." - Joyce Meyer
Do you have pets?
I have cats.