I was born in Iowa and raised in a variety of midwestern states and Ontario. I returned to Indiana to attend Valparaiso University and Manchester College. I spent my early post collegiate years teaching high school biology, health and physical education and coaching high school girls’ basketball and tennis. I also worked as a nurse in OB, ER CCU and HHC and then moved into hospital administration, first as VP of patient care and then as COO. Part of my COO duties included physician recruitment. Recruiting docs to a small town is a tough job. That’s when I decided to go to medical school. Believe it or not, in spite of my convoluted education/work path, I always wanted to be a physician.

I attended Indiana University School of Medicine and the family medicine residency here at FWMEP. After residency, I established a solo practice in Columbia City twenty miles from Ft. Wayne. After nearly 14 years in private practice, I joined Parkview Physicians Group and spent 9 years as an employed physician. When I left PPG, I started helping with OB attending coverage for FWMEP while traveling to Amery, Wisconsin to work on OB locums position at a very small hospital. After my locums commitment was complete, I joined the faculty here at FWMEP.

Outside of work, I am active in the Indiana State Medical Association and was honored to serve as President during the pandemic. I am active in my church and play organ for services and direct the handbell choir. BUT, my favorite activities are those with my 10 grand and 6 great-grand kids.