What is your hometown?

My father was a career Army officer, so I have lived in many places. I was born in New Jersey.

When did you join the UI faculty?

I joined the UI faculty in April 2002

How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?

When I was in my 20’s, living in Taiwan, I met a female doctor. This gave me the idea that I could become a doctor if I wanted to.

What interested you to pursue a career in medicine?

I wanted a career where I felt I was making a contribution to society. I was also interested in women’s health and felt that the female point of view was not always well represented in healthcare. 

Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?

There were many: the residents in radiation oncology when I was a medical student and my resident program director, to name a few.

How or why did you choose the UI?

I started my career in academics and moved to private practice while my son was growing up. When he graduated from high school I was ready for a change and new challenges. Dr. Buatti, the department chair, was recruiting faculty for a new department in image guided radiation therapy. It sounded exciting to me and here I am.

What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at Iowa provide? What about challenges?

Opportunities are numerous. This includes the many opportunities to collaborate with other faculty as well as teaching, and research. I have developed a clinical service in high dose rate brachytherapy and am involved in clinical trials for breast and cervical cancer patients. 

Please describe your professional interests. 

These include image guided radiation therapy for breast and gynecological cancers, reducing the long-term side effects of radiation therapy, the relationship between the coagulation system and tumor angiogenesis and metastases, and developing an effective clinical research infrastructure.

What are some of your outside interests?

Running, swimming, biking, yoga, quilting, and reading, and politics. 

Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?

For patient care: respect and empathy; for clinical research: looking at clinical problems with an open mind.

If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be? 

It would be that every newborn baby girl on earth had the same opportunities as every newborn baby boy.

What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student? 

The most significant changes in radiation oncology are advances in medical imaging and computer software programs for treatment planning.

What one piece of advice you would give to today's students?

Follow your interests and keep learning.

What do you see as "the future" of medicine?

As long as there are people, there will be medicine. Our ability to diagnose disease with non-invasive means will increase. Ideally, we will be able to treat disease with more effective treatment and fewer side effects.

In what ways are you engaged with the greater Iowa public?

Most of my non- leisure activities are related to my work. I speak about breast cancer and other cancers for local groups. I am a member a national medical ethics committee and I belong to Iowa oncology related professional groups and represent Iowa as a member of our ASTRO government relations committee.