Bio
A mentor once advised me to find my passion in patient care and follow that drive. A defining moment came during my third year of residency when the Emergency Department called on me to evaluate a teenager who was attacked by his family dog. He sustained a complex, full-thickness laceration through the nasal dorsum and ala with complete transection of the lower lateral cartilages. Understandably, the patient and his family were filled with trepidation regarding the potential outcomes of this disfiguring injury. After connecting with the patient and easing his fears, I invited him to choose our “OR playlist” and embarked on my first primary “reconstructive rhinoplasty.” Through methodical and meticulous technique, I was able to restore the patient’s form and function. Suffice to say, I was elated when the patient was so pleased with his result that he requested a post-operative photograph with his surgeon, and equally humbled to learn of his continued success in follow-up. While the exacting and aesthetically-oriented nature of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery (FPRS) had resonated with me since early in residency, this encounter enabled me to experience the gratifying impact of this work first-hand.
My most rewarding moments in medicine stem not only from relationships with patients, but also my love of surgery and pairing my hands and mind to complete complex, nuanced procedures. With this in mind, FPRS best suits my interests and abilities. When my mentors evaluate a patient, I see parallels to my experience in the ED and see where I will be most fulfilled. Just as I gained the trust of an anxious and insecure teenager, my mentors are adept at setting expectations with the revision rhinoplasty patient or communicating their vision for staged forehead flap reconstruction with the cancer patient. Watching my mentors leverage their surgical armamentarium to enhance their patient’s lives inspires me to do to the same.
I have also deepened my appreciation for FPRS through academic opportunities and remain dedicated to medical education. My most meaningful projects explore the effects of rhinoplasty techniques on the nasal base and draw from my extensive background in public health to map out the state of healthcare disparities research in FPRS through a scoping review. Additionally, I come from a family of teachers and will continue to prioritize teaching and education throughout my career. Before entering medical school, I served as an AmeriCorps classroom leader in Washington, DC, teaching adolescent health care. More recently, I have served as the otolaryngology preceptor at our university student-run free clinic and was recognized by my department with the resident teacher award.
The goal of my fellowship is to immerse myself fully in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. As I strive to perfect my skills and establish myself over the next several years, I endeavor to build a university or private practice-based career focused exclusively on cosmetic and reconstructive care, while also remaining invested in teaching, medical education, and advancing the science of our specialty. To achieve these goals, I seek to join a program that provides outstanding care, state-of-the-art clinical experience, and academic and professional mentorship.
