Entrusting the care of your child to a medical professional is a very important decision. I strive to carefully listen because parents and caregivers who know the child best can unlock the diagnosis most of the time. I know how confusing medical terms can be, so it’s important to me that I speak in a way that both the parent and the child understand. Building a long-term relationship with patients and their families is one of my favorite parts of being a pediatrician. In my 20+ years practicing pediatrics, I have found that one of the most rewarding experiences is having multi-generational patients; when my former patients return to me with their children.

I was born in Berkeley, California, but spent most of my childhood in Melbourne, Australia. I even ate Vegemite when I was there, which was my first act of culinary bravery. However, I sadly lost my Aussie accent when my family moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, where I spent my teenage years.

My husband and I have a daughter and son, both teenagers. To complete our family, we decided to get a new puppy. Her name is Juno and I am always happy to show photos. Our family loves outdoor adventures, especially river rafting trips. A long-term travel goal is a multi-week raft trip on the Grand Canyon. We love to travel to Central Oregon in the summertime. I am a movie buff and a sucker for a good romantic comedy. One of my favorite movies is Pride and Prejudice, specifically the one with Colin Firth. I also like to hike, play the violin, read and eat Haagen Dazs coffee ice cream.

I share my practice with Dr. Smita Tomkoria, with whom I have a great relationship and share a similar philosophy of patient care. Our similar style allows a consistency that many of our patients appreciate. We both are thoughtful and support medicine backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. We care deeply about vaccinations, preventive health, following up with our patients and the long-term relationships we build with our families.

A quote I like to live by is, “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do” by the poet Rumi. Having a strong passion for what I do has allowed me to create meaningful relationships with patients and challenge myself every day with something new.