What do you do now? 

I am currently a Clinical Epidemiologist working for the Center of Evidence Based Policy at Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU). The center is a group that functions independently from the university. We do technical assistance for the state Medicaid program and work on some state specific projects, mostly for New York state. 

I came to the center after five and a half years of being Chief Medical Officer for Delaware Medicaid, where I was the clinical lead for all things Medicaid in the state. Immediately after residency, I moved to Philadelphia to do the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Fellowship. It's a two-year health policy research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Who were your mentors in residency?

So many fantastic people! I have to mention Jeff Borkan, who of course is a giant in the family medicine world….but so humble and unbelievably approachable. He helped me think about some non-traiditonla careers and what a job that involves policy and medicine could actually be. HE WAS FANTASTIC AND CONNECTED WITH HIM MULTIPLE TIMES after residency to make decisions on what to do next. 

Melissa Nothnagle was the residency director when I started and she was an inspiration in terms of comprehendsive reproductive health and all of the things family medicine doctors can do to help people, either having children or not. 

Fabia El Reyes…was fabulous to work with as well. 

Oh my gosh, Raven Chandren just a briliiant man! Unbelieable clinician and also the only attending who came to dig out my driveway on the morning of a HUGE snowstorm when I siad I was tgoing to be late because I cant get my car out in time for rounds,. He showed up and instead of just giving me a reide ot eh hospital, he hopped out of his care with a shovel and actually started digging it out with me. 

So many great people and have SUPER fond memories of working with them and really felt very supported and taken care of. 

 5 - What is something you learned as a resident that you have regularly gone back to throughout your career? 

The importance of taking things just one piece at a time. Because when you sit back and look at all of the things as a resident does in a single day. It’s completely overwhelming. 

And if you went into everyday thinking omg I have to get all of this done, I would have just been paralyzed. So having a little list and checking things off as you do it. Really makes a huge difference to take things in bite size pieces. 

6 - What advice do you have for current residents? 

That this is a really unique time in your life and your career and seize the opportunity to learn things that won’t be as easy to learn once you are out of training. 

7 - Do you still keep in touch with members of your residency?

Ph yes absolutely! A couple of months ago, three of us had a little mini residency reuinion weekend. And yes, regular text threads with some of my co-residents. 

What are you most proud of in your career? 

I am most proud of the fact that, even thought, I am not seeing patients on a day to day basis, as I now have a more adminstirative and academic type job. I am still doing work that has an impact on care for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. And that is something I feel like family medicine really takes to heart.