What prompted you to join the medical field?
After my daughter was born, I decided to go into medicine. It was a long road that took about 10 years. I graduated from PA school in 2016, and planned on going into oncology and hospice, but they all required experience. I found a position in a wellness program that mainly treated STDs. I found my calling, so I moved into HIV and infectious disease.
What is it like working with patients diagnosed with HIV?
My patients very often, especially when newly diagnosed, say it’s the worst day of their life. I assure them they'll be okay. HIV is a chronic disease now. I reassure them that they're going to take their meds every day, take good care of themselves, and be able to have everything else in the world that they want.
What is the best part of your job?
I love my relationships with my patients, but it's more than that. I take them from being naive and scared to where they can be successful, healthy, and have a future.
You would think that HIV is the biggest part, but they often come with many other troubles: mental illness, trauma, and housing instability. Most don't have insurance. They live below the poverty line. They have so many other things to overcome, and I understand why they would want to give up, but I help them regain the confidence to tackle the world and make it a better place."