About Me

I was born and raised in Hastings, Nebraska. In medical school at Cornell University, I met and married a physician who is originally from Kailua. We moved back to Hawaii and have been working with the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group (HPMG) since 2001.As a third-generation physician, I am grateful to my father and grandfather for instilling in me the principles of hard work and respect that our profession was founded on. I am also grateful to my mother, a nurse and caregiver, who exemplified the importance of compassion and kindness in all tasks.

About my practice

Internal medicine has always appealed to me because I wanted to know as much as I could about many things, rather than focusing on only one subject. It is a field where knowledge, listening, and problem-solving are primary, and these are all things I value.In 2007 I helped establish a hepatitis B program for the region, and I am very proud of our Hepatitis B Clinic and the outreach we do for this population. I serve as a lecturer for various hepatitis B conferences, educational outreach efforts, and clinical symposiums on the island. Practicing in HPMG is a great professional privilege. Being a part of a large, highly coordinated medical group allows me to take better care of my patients because if I ever have questions regarding specialty issues, those answers are only a phone call away. I am inspired by my colleagues’ work and effort, and this makes me strive to be the best physician I can be. I believe in a thoughtful, well-informed approach to care. I share the most up-to-date medical assessments and options with my patients to ensure they feel informed about their condition and understand our approach and rationale. I am supported by a great clinical staff that shares this philosophy, for which I feel very fortunate.I love patient care, and I often feel that I gain as much from my patients as they do from me.

How I thrive

I try to exercise most days. I love to dance, and am blessed to have a wonderful Halau that keeps my mind and body connected with Hula. Having three young children also keeps me active and always keeps me laughing.Gardening and working in the yard with my chickens help me reflect and unwind. I also enjoy being a member of several book clubs. My friends and family fill up the rest of my days, for which I am deeply grateful.