I’ve always gravitated toward working with kids. I babysat and nannied throughout high school and college and volunteered at a preschool, so when I started my pediatrics rotation in medical school, I knew I had found where I belonged.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in neuroscience from Bradley University before attending
A.T. Still University for medical school. I completed my pediatric residency at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
My connection to pediatrics is also personal. I grew up watching my brother navigate a chronic illness and saw firsthand how it affected not only him, but our entire family. That experience shaped the kind of pediatrician I want to be. Even when all the medical answers aren’t available, I want families to know they have someone there to support them.
Becoming a mom has given me an even deeper perspective. I understand the worries parents have behind the scenes and how something that might seem small can feel like a very big deal when it involves your child. I want parents to feel comfortable sharing those concerns and know that I’m listening.
I believe caring for a child should be a partnership. Parents know their children better than anyone, and I bring my medical knowledge and experience. We’re working on the same team. I want families to feel understood, supported, and confident that we’re making decisions together.
One of the things I love most about pediatrics is that kids are resilient, happy, and fun. I want to help children enjoy childhood, whether that means preventive care, treating an injury, supporting their mental health, or managing a chronic condition. Especially for children with ongoing medical needs, my goal is to make sure their condition doesn’t define their childhood.
I love that pediatrics allows me to build relationships over time. I get to watch children grow, get to know their families, and become part of their story. I want to support the parents of a medically complex child, the new parents who feel terrified, and everyone in between. My hope is to care for families for years and, someday, generations.