Why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare:

I believe it was my destiny. My father always told me I should become a nurse, but I had intended to go into the social work field instead. My plans changed course after I completed an internship at Hershey Medical Center on the Cardiac Transplant Unit. I was fascinated by the medical component of the experience. My preceptor recognized my interest, and recommended a career in medicine or nursing. I finished my degree in social work and immediately enrolled in the nursing program at York College and began the next semester.

What I want my patients to know about me:

After graduating with my nursing degree, I spent eight years working my way up the ladder in the nursing home setting. I started out as an aide, then a floor RN, then the assistant director of nursing, and finally the director of nursing position. After completing my MSN/nurse practitioner degree in 2003, I stayed in the geriatric field and worked with internal medicine to provide care to the several hundreds of nursing home and personal care home patients we had in Lancaster County.

What I do when I'm not seeing patients:

I really enjoy being outdoors. I love to hike, snow ski, swim, and take long walks. I am also a "foodie" and love to taste the local as well as international cuisine. I enjoy traveling and have been fortunate enough to visit many US states and other countries. My favorite vacation trip was Alaska!