I was born and raised in Chicago and the surrounding areas where from an early age I was able to appreciate how geographical location, income, and public services influence what a child can access. During my medical school training, I worked with families living with a spectrum of life circumstances that influenced how they raised their children. I moved to Alaska for medical residency in 2014, where I was given the opportunity to learn from a wide range of healthcare-associated facilities providing essential services to Alaskan children from all over the state. Having practiced full spectrum family medicine in multiple communities in Alaska, there are shocking similarities in the problems faced by rural and urban families.
I believe that organizations like Sprout are necessary to support the gaps in the healthcare system, educational system, and public services. It is an honor for me to be part of systems that meet families where they are at to enrich children’s lives early and often.
