I grew up in the Holland, Michigan area, and then went to college at Valparaiso University in Northwest Indiana. After finishing undergrad, I took my first job as a research assistant at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital working in a pediatric hepatology lab. Two years later, I started medical school at Ohio University, and then went on to complete my pediatric residency training at Dayton Children’s Hospital. I decided to pursue a career in pediatric endocrine because of the wide array of disorders we treat, the patient continuity, and the combination of inpatient and outpatient work.
As I traveled around the country on fellowship interviews, UNC really stood out to me because everyone was so genuine and passionate about the work they do. The fellows were happy and well-supported. Now that I’ve been here for a little over a year, I can confidently say that UNC was the perfect choice for me. All of the faculty members here are expert clinicians who are so approachable, willing to help, and excited to teach. I’ve received excellent advice and teaching in the areas of clinical care, scholarly work, medical education, and career planning. On top of that, my husband and I have really enjoyed living in the Research Triangle area. We love taking vacations in the mountains or on the coast.
My clinical and research interests include puberty and CF-related endocrinopathies. I’m working with a clinical researcher at the nearby National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH/NIEHS) to explore the physiology of girls as they transition from anovulatory to ovulatory menstrual cycles, an area that is largely unexplored. Secondly, I will be leading a clinical research trial investigating the use of continuous glucose monitor technology in the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.
After fellowship, I plan to work in an academic center with an expertise in treating disorders of puberty and CF-related endocrinopathies. In addition to patient care, I see myself as a clinician educator and perhaps also a clinical researcher.
