What is your hometown?
Mason City, IA
When did you join the University of Iowa faculty?
August 2006
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
I became interested in science at a young age because of my parents’ influence. However the human body fascinated me throughout high school and college. I also wanted a career that was people orientated and interactive.
What interested you to pursue a career in Urology?
Urology is a wonderful mix of clinical medicine and operative procedures. Some patients you may treat for a brief period of time, others you develop a long term patient-physician relationship with.
Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?
At the time of my urology rotation, the residents had a tremendous impact on my interest.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa?
I chose Iowa in great part because of the location and my desire to be closer to my family. It just so happened that the University is a great place to be and it affords me the ability to participate in the education of medical students and training of residents.
Please describe your professional interests.
From a teaching perspective, one of my interests is in having the urology residents see and learn diverse treatment options, and also to gain a better perspective of many of the urinary problems that affect primarily women.
How does working in a collaborative and comprehensive academic medical center benefit your research and clinical interests within Urology?
From a clinical perspective I see many patients with pelvic pain. Being in this academic setting I can draw upon colleagues in other departments to approach these often challenging patients in a multidisciplinary fashion.
What interested you to sub specialize in Female Urology?
Urinary incontinence can have a profound negative impact on the quality of life of a patient. My goal was to really gain an understanding of the types of incontinence and have an armamentarium of treatment alternatives appropriate for their condition.
What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student?
I think one of the greatest changes in urology has been the advancement and increased utilization of laparoscopic and robotic procedures.
What one piece of advice would you give to today's students?
You should approach every clerkship with an open mind and the understanding that this is likely the last time you will have formal teaching on the subject.
What are some of your outside interests?
Outside of medicine I spend a great deal of time with my husband and two little boys. We try to be as active as possible and enjoy being outside, whether it be at parks, the swimming pools, or just our backyard.