Who at your alma mater inspired you and why?

I was greatly inspired by Luther Brady, MD, who was my assigned advisor from the freshman year onward. Luther, head of radiation oncology, was a recognized global leader in his field, an amazing clinician and researcher, and a renaissance man. He was on the board of the Philadelphia Air Museum and many other cultural institutions in the city. He advised my travel to London during my fourth year, introduced me by letter to colleagues, and inspired me to have the international career in tuberculosis and global health that became a reality.

What's a favorite memory you have of your time at Hahnemann?

The first memory that comes to me is meeting the late artist Andrew Wyeth, when he was an inpatient at Crozer-Chester Medical Center during my medical residency. When rounding to discharge him on a beautiful Sunday morning, we asked where along the Brandywine River we might stop for lunch while on our planned canoe expedition upon getting off duty that day. He invited us to put in at his home, “the farm,” along the river, where he greeted us, and on a later visit showed me and another resident the Helga Pictures well before they went on tour to the general public.

What's one great lesson, personal or professional, you've learned?

The personal lesson that comes to mind is that the intensive study and practice of medicine requires for me almost as intensive outside interests. During my seven years in Philadelphia, I was introduced to the city’s rich musical offerings — symphony, opera, musical theater and Saturday ritual walks to Sam Goody’s to buy recordings on sale.

What's a personal or professional achievement you're particularly proud of?

Achieving full professorship at Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health and a global leadership position in my field have been my proudest accomplishments. Of course, being in global health, it is ultimately the lives saved through my work that is the real achievement.

What keeps you going when you face challenges?

The security of knowing that I am loved by my family and partner keeps me going in tough times, bolstered by my outside interests. I am now an avid late-life cabaret singer!

If you hadn't gone into your chosen profession, what else would you have liked to do?

Although it is tempting to say that I would have been a musician were I not a physician, I know that I don’t have enough talent to succeed professionally in music. My life’s work has been in the interface between airborne infection and the built environment, so I think another good place for my abilities might have been architecture. For many years I co-directed a Harvard-based postgraduate course, “Building Design and Engineering for Airborne Infection Control,” resulting in safer buildings around the world that can be attributed to lessons learned through that course.

Who at your alma mater inspired you and why?

What inspired me was being a part of the Philadelphia medical community. At MCP-Hahnemann there was an amazing cooperation with the Greater Philadelphia medical community, innovation (at the time the first artificial heart was being transplanted, and gene therapy was in its infancy), and being a part of a city-driven health care system.

What's one great lesson, personal or professional, you've learned?

One great lesson is to surround yourself with great people. Great people doing things together can make amazing things happen and elevate each other to accomplish things that they may otherwise never have been able to do on their own.

What keeps you going when you face challenges?

When facing challenges, I feel that forward momentum is key to overcoming them. Too many people give up or stop what they are doing. Moving forward allows iteration, learning and reflection on solving the problem.

If you hadn't gone into your chosen profession, what else would you have liked to do?

I would have loved to be a dive master on a scuba diving boat.

Who at your alma mater inspired you and why?

Dr. Cato Laurencin in orthopedics. He was the epitome of confidence, competence and excellence as a role model for Black medical students. He had a strong and powerful presence as well, which was inspirational to me.

What's one great lesson, personal or professional, you've learned?

That there is great value in being a truly skilled listener. In all areas of life, especially as a doctor, while I am seeing patients during an appointment, listening attentively and carefully helps me to understand their needs. This leads me to ask certain follow-up questions and will usually point me toward the best path of wellness.

What keeps you going when you face challenges?

Thinking about the challenges my ancestors faced, and the enormous sacrifices they made, makes me feel I can handle any obstacles that come my way. The segregation and the prejudices they had to face in our country during their lifetime always humbles me.

If you hadn't gone into your chosen profession, what else would you have liked to do?

I certainly would have liked to be a luxury travel blogger, working for an international magazine and writing about my experiences, sampling all the wonderful resorts around the world!

Who at your alma mater inspired you and why?

Dr. Rhonda Soricelli, who directed the Medical Humanities program, was a great inspiration to me. Through elective coursework in the program, she was able to ground all we were learning in our other courses (such as anatomy and biochemistry) in the patient experience, despite our having limited patient interaction in the first two years. She also embodied the traits of a physician-scholar and showed how important it is to maintain curiosity throughout your career.

What's one great lesson, personal or professional, you've learned?

I think the most important lesson I have learned in life — which applies both personally and professionally — is that if something doesn’t work out, it is for some reason that will become clear at some point in the future. I think it is in our nature, especially as physicians, to try to make things work or turn out the way we want them to. However, it is actually less stressful to accept the alternative path that is presenting itself, which, almost universally, leads you to a better destination than the one you initially planned.

What keeps you going when you face challenges?

I am a very goal-directed person, so having pre-planned goals (both short- and long-term) allows me to stay on track and see things to their completion despite unforeseen challenges. It is also important to have time away from the challenges in order to put things into perspective, so I think hobbies unrelated to medicine are super important. After a long, challenging day, I enjoy listening to a podcast and working in the garden, even for a short time, to recenter and recharge.

If you hadn't gone into your chosen profession, what else would you have liked to do?

Prior to matriculating at Drexel, I was a high school chemistry teacher in North Philadelphia with Teach for America. I have always enjoyed teaching and would have probably continued in education. Happily, I did not give this up entirely since a large portion of what I do now is teaching students, residents and fellows.

Who at your alma mater inspired you and why?

My first lab mentor, Dr. Brian Wiltgen. I had never really known about neuroscience before taking his class. Sitting in his lecture, I was inspired to start working in his lab, and I credit that experience with starting my journey in neuroscience.

What's one great lesson, personal or professional, you've learned?

That in science, challenge and rejection are more present most times than success. You can’t work for those tiny moments of success. You have to learn how to be happy in the in between.

What keeps you going when you face challenges?

Keeping the big picture in mind. Remembering the larger goal of the work, and not the tiny little setbacks on the way there.

If you hadn't gone into your chosen profession, what else would you have liked to do?

That’s a tough one. I really like doing deep dives on particular subjects, so I’ve often thought I would especially enjoy journalism and maybe podcasting in particular. But then sometimes, I could see myself opening a coffee shop or doing interior design.

Who at your alma mater inspired you and why?

Dr. Bonita Falkner was an inspiration to me.

What's one great lesson, personal or professional, you've learned?

I’ve learned you should always do the best for your patients.

What keeps you going when you face challenges?

It’s important to try to figure out the right thing to do when faced with challenges.

If you hadn't gone into your chosen profession, what else would you have liked to do?

If I were not a pediatric nephrologist, I would likely be a biochemist.

Who at your alma mater inspired you and why?

Probably the person who most inspired me and motivated me was not faculty at all. It was the technician in the lab, Elizabeth Cannon. While I learned a lot from the faculty in class and discussion, Liz’s bench-side education helped me translate what I learned into usable, applicable knowledge, and once I moved on, I stayed in touch with her more than anyone.

What's one great lesson, personal or professional, you've learned?

Be over-prepared. I stayed longer in college (five years), grad school (five years) and post-grad, but because I invested the time up front, later professional benchmarks like advancement and tenure came more easily.

What keeps you going when you face challenges?

I spent my post-doc in Seattle, where one climbs a lot of mountains. I found that if you stop every so often to admire the view from where you are, it keeps you plugging toward the top no matter how rough the terrain gets.

If you hadn't gone into your chosen profession, what else would you have liked to do?

I actually never deviated from (or even considered) being anything other than a scientist, even as a small child. I enjoy the logical argument parts of science a great deal, and if I ever considered anything else transiently, it was probably being a lawyer. I also enjoy, in the later phases of my career, the academic summary and archival aspects of my job, and when my ability to compete for grants comes to an end, I will probably wind out my career in databasing and writing reviews.

Who at your alma mater inspired you and why?

This is a hard one for me! I really loved Marie Hartman. She was always such a great advocate for students: Her door was always open, her affect was pleasant and warm, and she was diligent in her follow-up. I also particularly loved Dr. Cheryl Hanau’s teaching style in pathology! She left an indelible mark on my style as an educator.

What's one great lesson, personal or professional, you've learned?

Listen more than talk, especially for our families who have been discriminated against. I saw many mentors when I was a new physician or resident who modeled incredible listening and nonverbal communication skills. I like to put down my computer screen and really engage/listen. I try really hard not to interrupt folks, which, as an extrovert, is hard for me.

What keeps you going when you face challenges?

My children, Amelia and Desmond. And my third baby: Barkley! He’s a dog, but I love him so! I am also constantly inspired and motivated by the patients and families who I serve in West Philadelphia.

If you hadn't gone into your chosen profession, what else would you have liked to do?

I would either own a gourmet grocery store (with homemade soups!) or I’d become a high school biology teacher (I still may do that when I retire from medicine!).

Who at your alma mater inspired you and why?

Everyone at Woman’s Medical College was receptive and supportive, but Dr. June Klinghoffer stands out the most to me. She served as an advisor to our class and really led the way for us during medical school. She was kind and made herself readily available to students.

What's one great lesson, personal or professional, you've learned?

From childhood, I learned about the importance of listening and showing compassion to others, especially those in need. People don’t always ask for help when it is most needed, so I always try to make myself available and reach out with a supportive hand. My parents, who were immigrants, instilled this in me. They were such kind individuals and always helping others.

What keeps you going when you face challenges?

To me, a challenge is like a problem to be solved. When I meet a challenge, I try to let go of fear. Challenges can come up unexpectedly, like those you meet in the operating room. If I’m able to meet a challenge head on, I consider it a success. If not, I consider it a learning tool. So, my advice is to use the skills that you’ve been trained with and face challenges head on, as long as it’s legal, and never let a challenge defeat you. And I’ve always been a person of devout faith, which helps me manage challenges/problems.

If you hadn't gone into your chosen profession, what else would you have liked to do?

I grew up in a small country town where there wasn’t a great deal to do. We would read books, listen to the radio and head to the movies on Sundays. As a child, it was fun to fantasize about becoming a dancing movie star or an airplane pilot. Ultimately, I felt like medicine was my mission and my way of giving back to others.