Being a Business Owner in Medicine
I am a physician and private practice owner specializing in podiatric medicine, with expertise in treating sports-related injuries of the foot and ankle. I didn’t take business classes while attending Mount, and have learned much of what I know through reading books, listening to podcasts, and navigating the day-to-day challenges of operating a practice. I’ve found the business side of medicine to be incredibly fulfilling. It offers a wonderful balance between helping patients feel their best and finding ways for the practice and its employees to succeed and it affords me the opportunity to structure my work schedule in a way that allows me be present for my children allowing me to balance motherhood, business ownership, and caring for my patients.
Choosing Mount Union
I knew Mount had strong biology and chemistry programs, and I felt confident that I would be well prepared for whichever medical degree I chose to pursue after graduation. What truly drew me to Mount, though, was the opportunity to study biology while also pursuing a minor in art. But one of my favorite classes at Mount was microbiology with Dr. Risley. She had a wonderful way of making the course interesting, engaging, and applicable to everyday life. I have especially fond memories of the lab, where she let us have fun trying to grow E. coli on Petri dishes from bagged salads. Thankfully, we never found any! I was fortunate to work at the Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center during my junior and senior years. In that role, I helped lead community outreach programs and worked directly with members of the local community. That experience taught me the importance of human connection and helped me develop vital communication skills that I still use every day with my patients. In many ways, my work at the Nature Center translated beautifully into medicine. Treating patients is not just about addressing a diagnosis; it is about finding ways to connect with people on a deeper level. That connection builds empathy, strengthens trust, and ultimately deepens the physician-patient relationship.