First job? I was a lifeguard, and I worked in a bookstore in the mall. I was around 15. It was right when the fourth Harry Potter book was coming out, so there was a lot of excitement in the bookstore. Being a lifeguard was great too, because I got to hang out with all my friends.
Free time? Spending time with my family and my kids. I don’t have a lot of time for hobbies; my hobby is my kids. I also enjoy reading, but I don’t do it as much as I like.
Best part of your work? Getting to work with kids, who are generally pretty happy most of the time. And getting to work with parents, especially new parents. Seeing that transition from being pregnant to having a baby to having a toddler to having an older kid – it’s fun to see how parents grow with it, too.
Best advice you ever got? “Always try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.” Whether seeing them as a patient or just interacting with them in your personal life, just try to understand their situation. I think I’m a better pediatrician because I’m a parent. I’ve been through it, so I can empathize. Using personal experience to guide your treatment and how you interact with people is key.
Why healthcare? My oldest brother is nine years older than me and he’s a family practitioner. I remember talking with him about it and seeing how excited he was about what he did. It was always very intriguing to me. I like the science part of medicine – knowing how things work and why you feel the way you do.
If not healthcare, what would you be doing? I’d be a stay-at-home dad. I don’t know if I’d be good at it, but it would be fun.