What makes you passionate about being a healthcare provider? "I cannot think of a greater privilege than being able to empower my patients to be an active vessel of change in their own health and longevity and getting to witness the positive after effects. I love teaching my patients about illness prevention and helping them to intricately understand disease pathology. On any given day, I believe I can learn as much from my patients as I can teach them and I love building patient-provider relationships over time. I am passionate about increasing healthcare access via telemedicine, periodic health screening exams, preventative care, evidence based medicine, patient education and eliminating healthcare disparities." In your opinion, what should be the role of a primary care provider for a patient, taking into account both physical health and behavioral health needs? "As a primary care provider, my foremost goal is to help my patients take an active role in their own health. I believe in careful listening, open communication and making sure my patient's most pressing concerns are addressed. This is especially important when I meet a new patient but something I will continue to prioritize as a patient-provider rapport develops over time. I strongly believe in increasing health literacy across all patient populations and actively involving my patients in their treatment plans bolstered by evidence based medicine. This is increasingly important in this digital age of instant access to a wealth of information, where fact and faux at times coexist in a single sphere." Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you like to do in your spare time? "I completed my BA in Public Health and Psychology at UC Berkeley and my Master's in Physician Assistant Studies at Samuel Merritt University, Oakland CA. I have worked in many diverse healthcare settings including Emergency Medicine, Urgent Care, Occupational Medicine and Addiction Psychiatry. I hope to never stop learning. In my spare time I love to travel near and far, play tennis, ski, Latin dance, discover new restaurants, teach and take Zumba classes, and spend time with my family, friends and dog."