I was born and raised in Kansas City (both Missouri and Kansas side for those who know to ask), where I was active in any sport that gave me a spot on the team. Sports carried me to Virginia Tech, where I played volleyball for four years, serving as team captain for my junior and senior seasons, all while earning my degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
After college graduation, I moved back home to Kansas City, where I contemplated my life and considered a career in medicine. During this transition to adulting, I worked multiple part-time jobs as a:
- Nutrition counselor
- Office administrative assistant
- High school substitute teacher
- Club volleyball coach
I also took extra college classes to complete my medical school prerequisites and volunteered/shadowed in the emergency department.
My penchant for keeping busy was a good indicator that I could survive the rigors of medical school and thrive despite the heavy demands of education, training, and practicing medicine. I matriculated to the University of Kansas School of Medicine, graduating in 2008, and completed my Emergency Medicine residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, finishing my training in 2011.
