I wanted to become a physician from the time I was 16 but did not succeed until age 39. My road to get into medical school was an arduous and all but fatal one. 

While I prepared to apply to medical school, I ran a Support Group at a Retirement Home, and put in hundreds of volunteer hours for Suicide Prevention, a Homeless Mission, and a County Mental Health Association. I am a firm believer in Volunteers being the bedrock of a nation. During the (many) years during which I applied to med school, I worked in a Foster Group Home for teenage girls, and as a Coroner's Autopsy Assistant (worst job ever). I did research, assisting a professor working on analysis of saccadic eye movements, and another analyzing the chemical composition of phenazopyridine. I graduated with High Honors with a Bachelor's in Chemistry.  I did a post-graduate Psychology research study on bias (age/race/gender) in college students when faced with a choice of potential doctors.  I drew a college comic strip. I was married with a family of 2 young children. 

I matriculated at Penn State College of Medicine as a member of the Class of 2004, after which I was a resident at York Hospital in Internal Medicine. I then became a Hospitalist.  Due to my research and study of empathy, suicide, and resilience, and to my own experience with depression, I became aware of the phenomenon of Burnout and Attrition rate of Physicians who outwardly appeared successful. I was stunned to learn about suicides of Medical Students and Residents and Attending Surgeons. One of my colleagues died. I am convinced that the only path to keeping Health Care Providers and Trainees in the Profession, is for medical groups and hospital administration to support them during their journey and beyond, and for each of us to support our colleagues and let them know that they are needed and valued not just for what they do, but for who they are. 

I became fascinated with the idea that an individual could build resilience through Mindfulness and Meditation, through Loving Kindess and Forgiveness of Self and Others. 

I became the first East Bay Physicians Medical Group Well-Being Leader, and also the Co-Chair of the Alta Bates Summit Wellness Committee. 

In these capacities I gave lectures. Our Summit Committee started an Annual All-Day Physician's Wellness Retreat. I went on with two partners to continue organizing the Retreat. 2024 will be our Fifth Retreat.

I have worked as a Hospitalist at 5 Hospitals in the Bay and East Bay Area. Currently I work at Alta Bates as a part of the Inpatient Medicine Team and at Herrick Psychiatric Hospital. 

My interests, in addition to Mindfulness related pursuits, include spending time with my extended and close family, dogs and cats, sketching/cartooning, writing, studying foreign languages, travel, hiking, supporting local charities, supporting the Fat Positivity/Size Acceptance social movement, and playing the trumpet.