I was born in Dakar, Senegal, during my parents’ time as Peace Corps volunteers. My father was a physician working to help eradicate smallpox across Africa in the late 1960s. That early connection to global health and service stayed with me and shaped my sense of purpose from a very young age. I was raised in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, in a big, multigenerational household—with my parents, grandparents, and six siblings. It was a full, sometimes chaotic home, but it taught me patience, empathy, and the value of community—qualities that have stayed with me throughout my life and career.

I studied at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Sciences, where I built a solid foundation in pharmacology and health sciences. That led me to pursue my medical degree at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, where I was drawn to the holistic, human-centered approach of osteopathy.

Over the years, I’ve worked as a hospitalist at Frankford Hospital, Main Line Health, and now Penn Medicine. But beyond patient care, teaching has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career. I've been fortunate to mentor hundreds of residents and students, and I take that responsibility seriously. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing someone you’ve taught grow into a confident, compassionate physician.

I've been honored with several teaching awards over the years, including the D. Stratton Woodruff Award and the Faculty Award for Resident Teaching. I don’t teach for the recognition—but those moments remind me that investing in others truly matters.

Outside of work, I find peace and balance in nature, playing chess, and meditating. These practices keep me grounded, focused, and present—qualities I try to bring into every interaction, whether with a patient, a student, or a colleague.

Medicine, to me, is about more than diagnosis and treatment. It’s about listening. It’s about presence. And it’s about being there for people—not just clinically, but as a human being. That’s the kind of doctor I’ve always strived to be.