I am Famos’ and Solitaire’s Owner/ Mom.
I grew up in Hershey – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, having ridden Hunt/ Jump as an adolescent / early teen, until my 2 horses expired in a tragic 60-stall barn fire. Shortly afterward, I went to the Hun School of Princeton boarding school in Princeton, New Jersey for secondary school completion.
I initially entered University at Cornell, in Ithaca, NY in a tiered architecture program with a combined graduate degree. However, I decided that this was not the direction in which I wanted my career to go, and transferred to Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania for an education in the Classics as well as Romance Languages…./ with a minor in Chemistry. I cherish my well-rounded classical education from this Ivy League 7 sister school. It created a vantage point from which I continue to see the world, and strive for excellence every waking day.
I completed my medical school training at PCOM, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania…. And, later did Internal Medicine Internship at Northwestern University, and Neurology Residency at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s in Chicago, Illinois. I went on to do Movement Disorders Fellowship, and obtained a Masters Degree in Epidemiology at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa….. following which I completed a second Fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology, at the University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois.
I finally felt prepared to enter into private practice as a Neurologist/ Movement Disorder Specialist / Neurophysiologist….. and currently practice out of the Northwest Indiana area, heading a Movement Disorders – Deep Brain Stimulation Program, as well as holding Medical Directorships for Inpatient Rehab and Stroke Center of Excellence at my hospital. I have 7 different Subspecialty Board Certifications in Neurology, and experience the world from a “heady” and intense vantage point.
I mostly experience the world via literature, deductive reasoning, and analysis. I grew up in a household of physicians, and “scientific methodology” or “process” to things was always stressed. I believe that if I were a horse, I would likely be a social aloof type. Needless to say, I am an incurable introvert, and at times it is difficult for me reveal much of my personal thoughts, especially because when working with patients one must always maintain a boundary while at the same time being selfless, impartial, and observant. The majority of my waking day is involved in patient care. Despite all of this, I have a very loving and supportive partner who makes me laugh at the silliest things, and 2 gorgeous Siamese cats: Gustov and Hugo.
After all of this verbiage, you may be asking yourself….. what does she do for fun? Answer – ride/ learn dressage at KYB/ GPE. I begin my day 3times a week at 4 a.m., driving from Chicago to the barn, having a lesson with Amber Gipp or Yvonne Barteau from 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. and also attempting to get to the barn on the weekends when Team KYB is in town. I have learned so very much through my training at KYB and continue to grow not only as a rider but as an individual. I do see Dressage as a metaphor for life, in the continued pursuit of knowledge and excellence. This is my favorite way to begin my day, as intense as it may seem. I adore my horses, and feel that it has been a reciprocal investment in a very personal journey of discovery, skill, and fulfillment.