My career in medicine began when I was 9 years old and lined my stuffed animals up on the couch to administer check-ups and vaccinations to all of them with the doctor kit I received for my birthday that year. I'm told that my fascination with how the human body works began around the same time, and I began to devour everything I could get my hands and eyes on to learn more about how the body develops and functions.
After attaining my Bachelor of Science with Honors from Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I attended the University of Wisconsin Medical School and graduated 4 years later with a passion for pediatrics. I then completed a pediatrics residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics.
My first practice was in Manitowoc, WI, a small, primarily industrial town in northeastern Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan. During the 15 years I was there, I integrated deeply into the community and developed a reverence for small-town living and relationships, started a family, and provided leadership for our pediatric clinic, newborn nursery, and the local hospital system.
In 2017 I moved back to Madison, WI, and joined the University of Wisconsin and its medical school as an Associate Professor of Pediatrics. I continued to see patients every day in clinic, and I began teaching medical students and doctors-in-training a few days a week side-by-side to help develop learners' skills in pediatric assessment and treatment.
In 2022 my family decided it was time for a new adventure as my daughter was graduating from high school and we wanted to leave the snow behind. Texas called us, with its beautiful weather and friendly folks. I joined Cook Children's Carrollton pediatric clinic, and I am honored to practice alongside the experienced and excellent physicians here at this organization.
With more than 20 years of pediatric practice under my belt, I truly enjoy all aspects of well child care, ill child care, chronic disease management, and injury prevention and treatment. I have special interests in early infancy, family bonding, and infant nutrition; child development and early education; medically complex children; and the care of asthma and allergies. I believe my role in caring for children is to use my skills to understand the well child in the context of their family, help diagnose when something is not right, and support children and families in a shared decision-making model to determine the best course of action tailored to each individual child. As the primary care physician for medically complex children, I can be most helpful as the medical home, assisting with coordination of specialty care and community resources. When I'm not at work you can find me knitting, hiking with my Labrador, baking, singing in the choir, traveling, or hanging out with my family.
I look forward to working with you to provide comprehensive pediatric care for your family.
