What brought you to the Flathead Valley?
My husband and I were born and raised in Utah before we traveled to Southern Alabama for training, and eventually returned to Alabama to work for the last 10 years. We wanted to eventually get to a place that reminded us of the small farm town where we grew up with great recreational options, less bugs and less humidity! We fell in love with the Flathead area because we could continue our new farm life and raise our family in a great environment.
What’s your specialty of practice?
I am board certified in pediatric surgery, surgery critical care and general surgery. I am currently one of two full time pediatric surgeons here at Logan Health Children’s. I have a special emphasis in burns and trauma as well as advanced training in adolescent bariatric/metabolic surgery. I created the University of South Alabama Health Adolescent Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery Center, which was the only one of its kind in the state of Alabama. I am also specialized in all aspects of pediatric surgery including minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy and thoracoscopy), robotic surgeries, pediatric surgical oncology, pediatric colorectal surgery including bowel management, and surgery on premature babies and newborns with congenital defects.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I love pediatric surgery because of the huge scope of practice that we cover. It allows us to help so many children in different stages of their life with different problems. We see simple hernias to congenital
defects and everything in between. My favorite thing is to see pictures, sent by parents, months to years down the road of how well their child is doing. It makes all the training and time away from my own family worth it.
What are some of your professional interests?
My husband (who is an operating room registered nurse) and I routinely participate in medical missions, usually to Africa, through the Medical Mission Foundation based out of Kansas City, Missouri. We hope to do more as our children get older and can participate. Our passion for medical missions helped spark the creation of a non-profit organization called “Operation Every Child.” We collect expired or unused hospital supplies and equipment from hospitals between Montana and Alabama. These are then shipped to underserved hospitals around the globe, and families in need receive these items so they can afford surgeries for their children.
How do you like to spend your free time?
My family and I are excited to be back in the snow and enjoy all the winter activities the Flathead Valley offers. We also can’t wait to get out on the water and do some fishing and camping! We have an animal farm with horses, miniature donkeys, and longhorn cattle. We are looking forward to trail riding and getting involved in the local 4H clubs and FFA. I enjoy gardening and beekeeping and I am hoping to actually get a garden to grow this year.
Article as seen at 406Women.com