What is your hometown?
Honolulu, HI
When did you join the University of Iowa faculty?
2007
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
As a child, we had close family friends who were physicians. In high school and college, I loved and excelled in biology. The desire to help others in times of need likely came from my parents, both social workers.
What interested you to pursue a career in Surgery?
Surgery was what I fell in love with as a third year medical student. The immediacy attracted me – the ability to quickly and definitively solve problems using knowledge, judgment and manual skill, the camaraderie of the surgical team, and the incredible relationship with patients. It was simply the most rewarding and challenging field in medicine for me.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa?
The excellent Department of Surgery.
What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at an academic medical center provide?
The ability to influence the future generation of physicians – medical students and residents, the ability to work with a very dedicated group of colleagues, and the ability to contribute to advancements in my field.
Please describe your professional interests.
Endocrine surgery and surgical oncology, specifically breast surgery. I’m interested in the genetic basis of breast cancer risk. I’m interested in facilitating interactions among scientists and clinicians working in breast cancer research and patient care.
How does working in a collaborative and comprehensive academic medical center benefit your work?
I wouldn’t be able to do my work otherwise.
What are some of your outside interests?
My family and cooking.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
The interests of the patient come first.
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?
Universal health insurance.
What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student?
The advent of minimally invasive surgery.
What one piece of advice would you give to today's students?
Love what you do.