I chose to specialize in palliative medicine to take care of people, not just their diagnosis. It is an honor to treat the symptoms and stress of serious illness. My role at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center involves collaborating with an interdisciplinary team to improve each patient’s comfort and quality of life while they’re in the hospital. My goal is to have a positive impact on their lives, whether by prescribing medication that alleviates symptoms, explaining medical information, or offering a supportive presence. My professional mantra is a quote from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech: "to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope." As a fourth-generation Buckeye, I am routinely inspired by the ongoing innovation at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and the dedication to providing the best care possible to every patient. As an associate clinical professor of Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, I relish working with learners as part of our academic mission. In addition to my clinical responsibilities, I serve on the Ohio Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Council. I am also a fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and Alpha Omega Alpha, and a senior section editor for the Journal of Pain and Symptom Research.