Bio
What are your specialties and certifications?
American Association of Nurse Practitioner Certified, Advanced Cardiac
Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS).
Is there any other notable training we should know about?
I work outpatient in family practice but have extensive inpatient experience
in Critical Care nursing. I also have a Wilderness medicine background
and spent several years applying that knowledge working as a backcountry ranger.
Why did you go into medicine? Why did you choose your particular field?
I like to help people achieve their best physical and emotional health.
I wanted to go into a field where I could make a difference in my community
and improve the health of the place in which I live.
What are some of your clinical interests?
Family practice and I love pediatrics, women's health and procedures
as some of my favorites.
What do you love about practicing medicine?
I love the ability to positively influence someone's health and ultimately
their livelihood.
"I wanted to go in to a field where I could make a difference in my
community and improve the health of the place in which I live."
What is your philosophy of care?
By forming strong relationships with people I can improve their health
behaviors that influence their physical and emotional well-being. I would
like to provide high quality, evidence based, individualized care to all
of my clients to help them manage and prevent diseases and improve their
personal wellness.My philosophy of care is patient centered. I try to
allow the patient to make most of the decisions possible, while understanding
all treatment options. Ultimately I want us to work together as a team
to achieve all care goals.
What do you most want people to know about the way you practice medicine?
I approach medicine as a practice - an opportunity to maintain current
health and improve upon it. I like to do this with the patient taking
an active role, helping make his/her own care decisions once all the options
for treatment and prevention are known.
What can your patients expect during an appointment?
Patients can expect to relay their concerns and then have an in-depth interview
and assessment before diagnosis is discussed and approach to care is presented.
Then together we will make the care adjustments we are both satisfied with.
What do you wish you could tell every patient (and they would actually
do) and why?
Watch what you eat, avoid those extra sugars and move your body everyday!
A lot of health problems are driven by lifestyle so if I could only help
patient's shop, exercise and learn healthy choices a lot of disease
processes could be prevented or improved.
What have your patients taught you?
Patience. I have learned a lot of lifestyle changes take time and not to
expect too much of people overnight!
Who is someone you admire, and why?
My husband. First of all, he does all the cooking so I would pretty much
fall apart without him. He teaches me patience and kindness--and he's
an amazing father.
Where did you grow up?
What brought you to the Bitterroot Valley?
I moved to Missoula after high school for Forestry school and then ultimately
nursing school. I met my husband climbing in the Bitterroot Valley. We
left to work in central Idaho for about 8 years before returning to the
Bitterroot valley to be closer to both our parents.
"I have learned a lot of lifestyle changes take time and not to expect
too much of people overnight!"
What do you enjoy about living and working in a small community like ours?
The connections - knowing that if we improve the health of our patients
we're directly improving the health of everyone in our community.
Living in such a close-knit community, how do you create a successful work–life balance?
By getting outside everyday to balance the hectic and mentally challenging
side of clinic work. I like to work with people but to be able to spend
that energy I have to physically tire myself outside of work and take
a lot of quiet time and reflection when I can get it.
What are some of your non-professional interests and favorite hobbies?
Hiking, climbing, backpacking, camping, running, skate skiing, downhill
skiing. But most of all spending time doing these things with family and friends.
Is there anything about you that might surprise people?
I'm kind of an open book but some people don't know how much I
love running, especially trail races. I'm not exceptionally good,
I just like to be challenged and pushed outside my comfort zone.
What would be your personal motto?
To follow Gandhi's lead, I have loved this quote since high school
- "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
Do you have pets?
Yes, two ninjas. One is a dumpster dog from Puerto RIco and the other is
a rescue pup from Idaho. Both are high energy and get me outside everyday.