I have been surrounded by sports and medicine
my entire life. Growing up I played just about every sport
imaginable, especially if a ball was involved. I still play
basketball, tennis, golf, cross train, bike, and dream of
someday returning to a baseball mound and pitching a few innings
(in a 30+ league, of course). I've had my share of sports
related injuries, many of which I hobbled through, and some of
which I visited my orthopedist. I was also exposed to medicine
through my mother, a pediatrician. As a child I would visit the
local hospital with her and observe with great curiosity as she
examined the newborns.
This early exposure to patient care sparked my
interest in medicine and led me to pursue a career in this
field.
Prior to entering medical school, I leaned
towards becoming a family physician because I knew it would
provide me the broadest set of skills and allow me to care for
people in all corners of the globe. My desire to pursue family
medicine was also influenced by my interest in underserved and
preventive medicine. These interests have led me to Guatemala,
Mexico, Colombia, and Siberia on missions trips, and inspired me
to complete a Master's in Public Health while in medical school.
My thesis project involved setting up a free, faith-based
medical clinic in Hartford, which is still in operation today.
As I reflect on the journey I've traveled over
the past few years to reach this point, I remember the day my
calling to Family Medicine/Primary Care Sports Medicine was made
clear. During my first year of medical school I had a
conversation with Thomas Trojian, MD, Primary Care Sports
Medicine Fellowship Director at UConn, during a career night,
and he informed me that the majority of high school, college and
professional team physicians are Family Physicians. It became
clear at that time, the fall of 2001, that this field is for me.
I look forward to my year at UConn, where I
will work alongside some of the top sports physicians in the
country, and am equally excited to see how my varied interests
in medicine will converge.
