Can you tell us a bit about your interest, career background, and history as a physician?
I wasn’t planning on becoming a physician in college and did not take any premed courses. After I finished college and was working for the United States Department of Energy (I thought I wanted to go into public policy), I started to think about what I really wanted to do in life and that was when I decided to pursue medicine. I went back to school for a postbaccalaureate premedical program then entered med school. After med school I moved to Boston for my residency, then took my first job as an OB/GYN in Pittsfield. I then became Director of OBGYN at Berkshire Medical Center until I joined CHP in January 2018.
What is your favorite thing about working at CHP?
My favorite thing about working at CHP is the commitment of the organization to caring for underserved populations
What are some of the biggest challenges facing CHP patients and how is CHP addressing them?
I think it’s safe to say that the business of healthcare is ailing tremendously right now, and all of the pressures that have led to the ailing healthcare system apply directly at CHP. As a result, our patients are challenged with increasing difficulty in obtaining appointments and diminishing financial coverage for their care as assistance with obtaining insurance dwindles. CHP continues to do yeoman’s work at all medical sites, in dental, behavioral health, and nutrition to provide access as resources shrink and it becomes increasingly difficult to recruit providers by constantly improving efficiency, thinking creatively about how to support our teams, and trying to create a positive work environment.
What are you most excited about right now in your role?
Now that I have stepped down from the role of Chief Medical Officer (that I held for almost 4 years), I’m excited to be able to focus on site-specific projects at Barrington Ob/Gyn to capitalize on our strong team in the office who are anxious to “work at the top of their skills.”
What is your favorite local Berkshires attraction?
I’ve always loved going to MassMoCA. It was a lifesaver when I had young children—they loved the kids’ space and all the interesting modern art. I’ve seen amazing concerts and performances there over the years. It truly is a world-class venue.
What are you currently enjoying watching or reading?
Watching: I missed Breaking Bad when it originally aired so I’m finally catching up with that and seeing what all the fuss was about. Reading: I just finished John of John by Douglas Stuart (it was fantastic) and am about to start The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and his Mother) by Rabih Alameddine.