What are your career goals?
I'm looking forward to one day settling down in a community and building up a patient panel of patients I know over the long-term. I want to provide full-scope clinical family medicine: caring for pediatrics, adults, and the elderly with a special interest in LGBTQ+ healthcare and reproductive medicine. I am also interested in practicing obstetrics as a family physician.
What attracted you to the Duke Family Medicine Residency Program?
I wanted to be in a program that recognized the breadth of what family medicine looks like in practice. Among many programs that had a diversity of skills and experiences, what stood out about the Duke Family Medicine Residency program was the commitment to the larger community. We have time carved out in our schedule to focus on population/community health and to create projects in partnership with local Durham organizations. Faculty also are involved in local organizations and coalitions recognizing that needs and expertise of Durham residents should inform our practice. Engagement is not physicians just "doing outreach" to the wider community.
In your opinion, what makes Duke Family Medicine special?
As I have said, the genuine integration into the wider Durham community really stood out to me among residencies. I also appreciated the diversity of the residents, faculty, and staff here. I learn from folks from all different backgrounds and it makes me a better physician. I also feel well-supported in my residency. It is clear that the faculty want me to thrive not just as a trainee but as a human being.
What strengths or skills do you have that could be a benefit to the community?
There are several ways that I am working on connecting to groups here in Durham. After living in Latin America and on the US-Mexico border, connecting with Spanish-speaking folks here in Durham has been exciting. I also have spent time gardening/farming before and during medical school. So, I made sure to get connect to a community garden very early on after moving here.
What are you passionate about?
I think a lot about how health care intersects with the community at large. I am working on getting more involved with networks that focus on food insecurity/food justice here in Durham. I am also passionate about weight neutral medicine, focusing on the health of my patients independent from their body size. As someone in the LGBTQ+ community, making health care a safe place for people across the gender and sexuality spectrum, is near and dear to my heart.
What is your hometown?
Claremont, CA
What are your hobbies outside of work?
I love reading and I love being outside with my hands in the dirt. You can find me at the community garden several times a week (when my schedule permits), sometimes even listening to an audiobook at the same time. I also love being outside in general: walking the local trails, swimming in or boating on the local lakes, and heading out to the mountains on the western side of North Carolina.
If you have lived in the area for awhile, what is the best part of living in Durham/the Triangle?
I am still pretty new but I love all the trails and and green spaces. There is great food here in the Triangle and the produce at the Farmer's Market is amazing. We also have a beautiful library in downtown Durham that holds activities for all kinds of folks throughout the year.
What is something interesting that not many people know about you?
All throughout college I built sets for the theater program. I still love working with tools and paint.
So far, what has surprised you most about Duke?
While every residency I was considering talked about resident well-being, I am surprised by the actual investment in time and changes to the program here to foster work-life balance.
Education and Training
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, MD
- Muhlenberg College, BA Religion Studies