It’s hard to imagine, but I was asked to leave grade school…TWICE!!! My first offense was when I played hookey too many days in first grade. When questioned by my mother, I said “each day of learning is worse than the next!”. My second run in with school law was in 8th grade. I was going through my grunge phase and had dyed my hair too many colors. To avoid expulsion, I was required to have professional hair stylist to fix my wild locks.

Despite my rocky start and initial hatred of homework, I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian at age three-that meant a LOT of school! As a teenager, my passion (other than animals) was art and music. That aspect of my personality has really helped me with reconstructive surgeries as I believe achieving a good aesthetic and functional surgical outcome requires artistry and creativity. After graduating high school, I was a student for twelve extra years!

My mother and father are my inspirations. My mom is a classically trained concert pianist. From her, I learned compassion, caring and kindness. My father was an orthopedic surgeon that came to this county in the 1970s with next to nothing and built a successful medical practice in Toms River, New Jersey. From my father, I learned hard work, discipline, and a love for medicine. They are the most generous people I know. They drive me every single day to be kinder, work harder, and be better.