SITE NAME
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Role
Medical Director, Pediatric & Adult Advanced Cardiac Therapies, Associate Professor, Pediatric Cardiology
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ACTION MEMORY?
Sitting in a Cincinnati Children’s conference room, with a million sticky notes on the wall, mapping out the journey of a HF patient to advanced cardiac therapies. There were a bunch of seasoned folks, and a bunch of folks like myself – recent fellowship grads, all trying to make our way forward. I can draw a direct line from conversations and friends in that room, to research, friendships and changes in my own life!
WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD IN ACTION?
I have to say Medication Titration! Harnessing our team’s powers, empowering our allied health care professionals, using telehealth when appropriate, and mirroring our adult partner’s GDMT, has a real chance of potentially improving patient trajectories, decreasing HF admissions, avoiding VAD/transplant, and even promoting recovery on VADs!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK, AND WHY?
I can’t pick one!
- Medical: The Illness Narratives by Arthur Kleinman, if you’ve ever wanted to think about the rest of why we can’t always understand the medical courses of our patients, pick this up
- Sheer fun: Anathem by Neal Stephenson, a great book to think about quantum physics, science as religion, and adventure.
- Pure nerdiness: Godel, Escher & Bach (GEB): an Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter. Prepare to have your mind bent and likely expanded. I have to re-read every few years to find more nuggets to muse upon.
WHO IS SOMEONE WHO INSPIRES YOU?
My mom and dad—hard-working scientists and engineers who by grit, luck and prayer, gave me and my brother the opportunities to help other people.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Working for the local Medical Examiner’s office with DNA extraction, helping improve techniques on DNA extraction from microscopic blood samples and bones. My mom is a human DNA identification analysis expert for the state of Texas and the FBI, so I had amazing access!
WHAT’S ONE THING OTHER ACTION MEMBERS WOULDN’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I have had the pleasure of having had tea with the Queen of England now on three occasions.
