“Never stop learning! What you love now within your field may change over the course of your career.”
Research Interests:
My research interests are in sports vision, vision therapy, and pediatric eye care.
What is the most rewarding part of being a member of the Midwestern University faculty?:
I am blessed to be able to work with not just the most incredible colleagues, but also the most amazing future colleagues (our student doctors). Each person that I interact with inspires me to become a better doctor and teacher.
How do you engage students in the learning process?:
The most important engagement tool that I employ is a willingness to answer any question. I firmly believe that there is no such thing as a “dumb question.” I had a classmate who asked a “dumb question” to a professor who ended up brushing it off in front of the entire class, saying such a scenario would never happen. Two years later, that scenario was published in a major journal, and the professor apologized for not exploring it further with the class. That has stuck with me, and I encourage all my future colleagues to ask any question that comes to their mind. I may not get a chance to answer it in the lecture, but I will always try to follow up at another time to have the discussion.
What do you hope students learn from your classes?:
I always hope that my future colleagues find an increased level of comfort with my course topics. While I don’t expect all of them to go into my specialties, I want them to be able to understand the concepts well enough to provide good education to their future patients.
Why should students enroll at Midwestern University?:
Midwestern University prides itself on teaching doctors first and foremost. Other programs will have professors more focused on their research, with teaching as a mandatory necessity. Not here. Course Directors want to be in the lecture hall to share their knowledge. Additionally, I feel like the Open Door Policy at MWU is essential for quality medical education. Having the opportunity to stop by your professor’s office outside of office hours to have a question answered or just to chat promotes an atmosphere of collegiality and openness.
What lessons would you like students to take with them in their professional careers?:
Never stop learning! What you love now within your field may change over the course of your career. Additionally, you may be asked to provide entry-level care of a subspecialty based on your patient population. The most important thing for you is that you are willing to explore an interest and implement it into your career, and know that MWU is always here to help you find the right path for this information.
