FQHC TRACK RESIDENT: SILER CITY
I was born in Portugal where I spent most of my childhood until I moved with my family to Bealeton, VA in 2007. I then attended the University of Virginia where I studied Kinesiology and fell in love with Charlottesville! Go Hoos!! Because I couldn’t imagine living without Bodo’s I decided to stay in Cville and completed my Masters in Exercise Physiology. It was during this time that I became very interested in pursuing a career that focuses in the longitudinal care of patients. I also developed a passion for preventive medicine and for empowering patients to become healthier through individualized lifestyle changes.
For medical school I attended the George Washington University in DC. There, I continued to further my experience with the management of obesity, in both the adult and pediatric populations, through clinical practice and research. I was a member of the Community and Urban Health Track which allowed me to explore my interests in advocacy, public health, and the care of patients in the underserved communities of the DMV area. Throughout medical school I was interested in several fields eventually realizing, during a clerkship at a FQHC, that a career in family medicine meant I could incorporate all my passions. During fourth year, I spent several months on away rotations with various family medicine programs. These experiences allowed me to solidify my commitment to Family Medicine and to academic medicine.
My interests include (but are certainly not limited to) lifestyle medicine, care of underserved populations, preventive medicine, medical education, patient advocacy, women’s health, office-based procedures, and outpatient medicine.
In my free time, I love spending time with my wonderful co-residents and friends exploring the food scene and nature in the Triangle area. I enjoy cooking, baking, practicing yoga, playing tennis, hiking, relaxing on the couch with a good show, and traveling.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be trained at this outstanding program because it allows me to learn from incredible physicians in the Family Medicine department and in other excellent departments. While I wanted to train in a rigorous academic program and care for complex patients, I also wanted to ensure I was welcomed and valued during the off-service rotations. Thus far, I have only had wonderful experiences collaborating with both residents and attending physicians from other departments, reinforcing my initial excitement for UNC. I also have the added privilege of practicing at the Siler City Community Health Center where I will continue to work alongside providers that share my commitment for providing high quality healthcare to patients in an underserved rural community.
