The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
What is your hometown?
New York City, New York
When did you join the University of Iowa faculty?
August, 2005
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
I became interested in science watching “Star Trek” as a child.
What interested you to pursue a career in Dermatology?
It gives the exciting challenge of using clinical and visual clues to decipher signs of underlying systemic disease, and the opportunity to help a great variety of patients.
Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shaped your career?
I have been fortunate to have had inspiring professional role models to emulate. My greatest influence has been my parents.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa?
The University of Iowa gives great opportunities for innovation and collaboration in an institutional setting, and it has a great reputation for medical education and dermatology.
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?
The Cutaneous Lymphoma Program at the University of Iowa is a multidisciplinary clinic that draws together University resources and expertise in order to optimize care for patients with these rare conditions. By analyzing our collective and cumulative experience with cutaneous lymphoma we hope to make new observations and offer new insights into diagnosis and management of these conditions.
What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at an academic medical center provide?
Constant intellectual and emotional stimulation.
Please describe your professional interests.
Clinicopathologic correlations, medical education and cutaneous lymphomas.
What led to you interest in dermatopathology?
The opportunity to become a better clinician, and the opportunity to serve as the “answer key” to challenging clinical cases.
What are some of your outside interests?
I play the trumpet and enjoy gardening.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
As Voltaire said, “The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.”
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?
Better integration and less fragmentation in patient care.
What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student?
Advances in molecular medicine.
What one piece of advice would you give to today's students?
Remember, we all become patients one day.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
Molecular diagnostics and rational therapeutics.
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 do community service work through the McCowen Learning Community.