Practicing the Golden Rule

My approach to care comes down to one overarching philosophy, “treat others like you want yourself or a loved one treated.”

The seeds of this philosophy were planted long ago when my mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In high school, I was her primary caregiver and had to learn the many different aspects of chronic illness care. I witnessed firsthand how devastating, both physically and mentally, uncompassionate care can be. My mother’s overall well-being suffered for years due to unacceptable care. In retrospect, this experience gave me the drive to provide outstanding care for people with chronic neurological conditions.

There are several attributes that enhance patient care, including compassion, listening, and conscientiousness. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was fortunate to be treated by a health care team who made me feel like a person and not just a number, which has shaped my views on patient-centered care.

I want to embody high quality care. A key element in treating people with chronic illness is partnering with their family to develop an individualized management plan. Knowing how to best communicate with the patient, their family, and provide important patient information to other members of the clinical team is an essential aspect of providing well-rounded care. I am a firm believer in having open lines of communication between the patient, main provider, and care team. Open communication fosters the patient-clinician relationship, and sends the message of devotion and willingness to do whatever it takes.

I have a passion to make all aspects of a patient’s care excellent, even when the prognosis or outlook is poor. I embrace an optimistic attitude and, most importantly, have an undying devotion to improving a patient’s quality of life.