I am a physician because I have dedicated my life to ensuring that people are treated humanely, compassionately and intelligently (with some humor thrown in…). My journey began at Wellesley College where I helped found a suicide prevention hotline and fight against apartheid and anti-Semitism. I had intended to “solve” the Middle East Crisis single handedly.

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My path significantly changed when I learned that my closest friend was diagnosed with lymphoma and subsequently succumbed to the disease. It was during that experience that I realized I needed to be a physician who would treat patients, their family and friends with the dignity and respect they deserve. Experiencing my friend’s death instilled in me the passion to gain the knowledge I need to prevent disease and minimize the harms of disease.

And so…the Middle East Crisis persists, but hopefully fewer people have suffered from disease…