Age: 33
Occupation: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Mercy Medical Center
Who are your local mentors: Dr. Alan Whitters, psychiatrist; my husband Martin Cearras, an ICU and pulmonary physician; and Rachel Mosier, a family therapist.
What’s the best advice you ever received: The best advice I have ever received is probably the general attitude that my parents raised me to have. Through everything they said to me and did for me, there was an underlying message that if I wanted to achieve something, I absolutely could do it. I grew up believing that I could accomplish whatever I desired and put my mind to.
What do you know now that you wish you had known earlier in your career: There’s no rush! I was always pushing myself to achieve faster and would be devastated if there was some kind of delay. I now realize it would have been fine to take a year off here or there. The journey takes time and there’s no reason to get stressed out about finishing faster.
How do you ensure a balance between work and your personal life: I make sure to take time for my personal health. I enjoy running and use that time to clear my head, at least 5-6 days per week. I make the time. I also love yoga and make sure that I attend a class a few times per week. As a psychiatrist, I have to take care of my mind, and physical activity helps me do that. I think it makes me a better psychiatrist.
What’s something people should know about your generation in the workplace: My generation cares about people. We are less concerned with the bottom line and more concerned about how we can touch more people and be accessible to them. We want to make the world more humane, more sustainable environmentally and more kind, for our children. We care more about that than being millionaires.
