her most treasured, a certificate from the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care. How have you navigated disruptions in your industry to remain a top professional? To me, everything starts with where you come from. I was able to navigate the disruptions and concerns throughout my career because of the background my mother and father set for me. My father told me when I was a very young child that he wanted me to be the best version of myself that I could be and not to worry about competing against others. Every step of the way, whenever I faltered, I would remember what my dad said. That’s what motivated me to continue and to make it through my career. I carry that with me all the time. What are two key behaviors/personality traits that allow you to be effective in your role? One is my tenacity. My mother told me to just keep going no matter how hard things got. The other is my openness to other people. I always look at others as friends as opposed to strangers, and I meet them on that level. What is the most important issue/challenge you are dealing with in your industry? The biggest challenge the industry, just like the country, is facing is its willingness to be inclusive and diverse. We put up barriers all the time, particularly within the industry of medicine, and we are really facing that point where the industry must be as inclusive as a reflection of what America is. Until we can do that, there will be imperfections and issues with inequality. How do you feel your industry has changed/evolved? One of the biggest things that has changed is the increase in women in the field of medicine. I think about when I started in the industry versus where we are now — I think that has changed the face of medicine and how people view it because we bring different things to the table. The other important thing is being civically engaged. Physicians need to be a part of their community and the civil face of our country because if we stay out of it, the people making the decisions and writing the policies won’t understand. We bring something to the table that they really need. What innovations or technologies do you feel will shape the future of your industry? I am very excited about new innovations, how we understand the workings of the body, and how we use immunology and our genetics to help define where medicine can go. There is so much we can do, but if we don’t understand the human body better, all this technology won’t help us. How do we use our genetics to provide better health? I think that is the direction we need to follow to become more successful in medicine. What excites you the most about your industry? The willingness to really combat and face social issues and understanding that our social well-being is part of our medical well-being. Fifth Edition Marquis Who’s Who INSIGHT 15 INSIGHT MARQUIS WHO′S WHO FIFTH EDITION
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