What is your hometown?

Honor, Michigan

When did you join the University of Iowa faculty?

1995

How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?

I was 4 years old and my brother fell down and was crying. I didn't like the feeling of not being able to help and since then I've always wanted to be a doctor.

What interested you to pursue a career in Pediatrics?

It was a process. I found Pediatrics intellectually-challenging, and other pediatric professionals to be good-hearted people to work with. Plus, I truly enjoy the honest way children view the world.

Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?

My high school physics and biology teachers, my college french teacher, my parents and my husband Michael.

How or why did you choose the University of Iowa?

I was part of a dual recruitment. The departmental leaders were forward thinking and realized they needed a medical educator and general pediatrician within the next year or two. They hired me when they saw what I could bring to the department.

The University of Iowa’s faculty members are united to provide exceptional patient care while advancing innovations in research and medical education.  How does your work help translate new discoveries into patient centered care and education?

My goal is to create and disseminate Internet-based educational tools to educate patients, families, students and health care providers for the ultimate purpose of improving patients' care, outcomes, and lives.

Please describe your professional interests.

Educational informatics, which is the application of computers to medical education. Specifically the development of digital libraries which are organized collections of information that can be used to seek answers to questions or to solve problems. I have developed seven of them including GeneralPediatrics.com and PediatricEducation.org.

What are some of your outside interests?

Family, gardening, traveling, needlework

What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student?

The development of the Internet and its ability to disseminate voluminous quantities of information across time and space to diverse, vast audiences.

What one piece of advice would you give to today's students?

You need to find joy in life because as Rosalind Russell says in Auntie Mame, "Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death."

What do you see as "the future" of medicine?

Personalized medicine – using genetics to inform health choices.

In what ways are you engaged with the greater Iowa public (i.e. population based research, mentoring high school students, sharing your leadership/expertise with organizations or causes, speaking engagements off campus, etc.)?

I volunteer for 4Cs,y  Community Coordinated Child Care Resource & Referral, a non-profit organization which promotes the well-being of children by assisting families, child care providers, employers and others with their child care needs.