"Although I was born and raised in the greater metropolis area of Chicago, my family maintained a small farm, which provided an amazing extra-curricular education. I learned to appreciate organic whole foods (and the work it took to produce and harvest them!), the flow and impact of the cycles of nature, and the wonders of the outdoors. I went on to earn a BA degree in Psychology from Earlham College (IN), a Quaker-based school that fostered my belief in treating others as equals, my commitment to social justice, and my desire to serve. After spending some years in the workforce, traveling, and pursuing passions in Chinese Martial Arts and Medicine, I followed my childhood dream into medicine. I graduated from UMass Medical School in 1999, and completed training at Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, a program committed to providing care to underserved populations. That was the start of a broad base of experience throughout my career, which included a community health center; a small, private practice in a Boston suburb; and lastly, a larger, national organization in the heart of Boston. Regardless of the setting in which I practiced, I sought to provide that “old-fashioned” patient-doctor relationship - one that is based on genuine caring, mutual respect, and mindful listening. I enjoy working with patients as collaborative partners to create individualized treatment plans and healthier lifestyle strategies. My early experiences with complementary therapies reinforced a holistic and integrative approach, including recognizing the potential value of “alternative” medical theories and treatments. In keeping with this vision of primary care, I opened Wellscape Direct MD, my own Direct Primary Care practice, in downtown Boston in 2015. Goals at Wellscape Direct MD include not only treating and managing illnesses, but also partnering to optimize health and well-being."
