Meet Our Team

My Health Philosophy

I enjoy meeting every patient and family. Spending time in conversations about health is my favorite part of my job.

I am convinced that our bodies are designed to be healthy and to heal themselves. I try to intervene as little as possible with medications. Sometimes patients require medications or surgery, but I will always discuss alternatives.

From before birth, what we put in our bodies and what we do with our bodies is essential for our health.

Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in our country. Studies show that the beginnings of heart disease start when we are toddlers, infants or even earlier. The good news is that we can live in a way that promotes heart health and overall wellness.

I encourage every patient and family to assess their diet, activity levels, screen time and community involvement. Below are my recommendations for each of those three topics.

Diet

• Eat as many vegetables and fruits as possible, and eat them in a whole form whenever possible (for example, a leaf of spinach or Swiss chard, an apple, a carrot).
• Read labels and avoid products with more than five ingredients, as well as products with added sugar, high-fructose corn syrup or other added sweeteners.
• Drink mostly water.
• Eat whole grains whenever possible.
• Some of my favorite foods:
  • Leafy green vegetables
  • Berries
  • Citrus fruits
  • Garlic
  • Squash
  • Lentils
  • Mushrooms
  • Garbanzo beans
  • Turmeric

Activity

• Our bodies are designed to move!
• Be active as a family by walking, biking, hiking, skiing, fishing, hunting and playing sports.
• Inside and outside chores can be active too, including chopping wood, shoveling snow, doing laundry and cleaning. 

Screen Time

• Screens are a part of life, but we can choose not to be controlled by them.
• Avoid screens for one hour before bedtime, as they have been shown to disrupt sleep.
• Do not put televisions or other screens in bedrooms and, if they are there, remove them.
• Plan family activities that are screen-free. 

Community Involvement

• Studies show that people who are involved in their communities are consistently happier and healthier.
• Make sure your family is involved in something, such as a religious or faith group, a service organization, recreational sports, networking groups or other groups of people with common interests.
• Spend time with older relatives.