Age: 38
Occupation: Owner, MD, FAAFP, Family Medicine Specialists P.C.
Greatest professional achievements: My greatest professional achievements are serving as chair of the Cedar Rapids Hospital Organization, earning my fellow degree in family practice and being medical director of diabetes camp at Camp Tanager while being an owner and practitioner in a successful independent medical practice in a great medical community.
Who are your mentors: Julianne Thomas, M.D. (Pediatric Center), and partners at Family Medicine Specialists PC.
Best advice you ever received: The best advice that I received was from one of my greatest teachers in residency, Peter Cermak M.D.: “Don’t lose the forest through the trees.” This applied both to finding a diagnosis for patients and working through problems in my practice or personal life.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you: Most people would be surprised that I was Jones County Pork Queen in high school.
How do you ensure a balance between work and your personal life: My family always comes first and this helps me provide great care to my patients when I am in the office. I have wonderful partners that take great care of my patients when I am not available and without them I would not be where I am personally and professionally.
What do you know now that you wish you had known earlier in your career: I wish I would have known earlier in my career how the political environment surrounding the medical community would be changing as it has done over the last few years in the Midwest.
What’s something people should know about your generation in the workplace: Although my generation is younger, we are goal-oriented and hardworking; plus we have the most current knowledge of our profession and technology that is infused throughout our society and businesses.
