When I was five years old, I started making rounds at the hospital with my dad. I loved seeing how he would make his patients smile and could tell they really respected him. He would come home from the office with bags of fresh fruit, delicious snacks, and homemade peanut brittle that his patients would give to him. He never complained about going to work and always seemed fulfilled.

I knew that I wanted the same type of life where I could help people and find joy in my work. I chose pediatrics because I felt this would be my chance to work with kids and maybe prevent illness from happening. I know what it was like to go into a doctor's office and be scared of shots or blood tests or just talking to the doctor. I wanted to do something that would make the whole experience a lot better.

After medical school and completing a pediatrics residency I realized that so many kids were afraid of going to the doctor and that could translate into fear of doctors as they got older. I also saw children having surgery or being diagnosed with cancer or having migraine headaches and trying to find a way to manage their pain. It was not easy and we did not have a lot of options. I decided that I wanted not only to help children not have pain but also help children learn how to cope with chronic pain.

It so important to help children, teens and young adults learn that their pain does not have to define them and if we work together there are ways to feel better that are not just medication based. I strongly support the use of therapies such as yoga, massage, acupuncture, nutrition, exercise, art, and music to manage and treat pain. I work closely with our clinic and hospital staff to find new and innovative ways to prevent and treat pain. I've had the privilege of bringing yoga and massage to our institution and introducing the comfort menu as a tool to reduce procedural pain and directing the opioid stewardship committee that is focused on the safe use, storage, and disposal of opioid medications.

We all know there are many ways to treat and manage pain. A single pill is generally not the answer. Therefore, I'm fortunate to get to know many aspects of my patients' and families' lives to develop a plan that works for them.

When I'm working with young patients and their families, I feel I can relate through my experiences with my own two boys. I enjoy hearing and sharing stories with my patients and creating positive experiences. I approach each appointment with the mindset of, "How would I want to be treated in this situation."

As a recipient of the award for the Cook Children's Endowed Chair for the Center of Pain Management and Integrative Health, my mission is to ease pain and suffering in all our children in a safe and effective manner.