Q&A

What are some of the lessons you learned in Teach For America? 

• Grit and passion accomplish great things. Putting one foot in front of the other is the most important element to incremental change.  
• Be accountable and reliable to develop trust.  The words “I’m sorry” can be very powerful especially to a child.    
• Don’t fear failure. Expect that it is part of the path of success. Reflect upon it.  
• Always be prepared.  
• Choose your friends wisely and make relationships with people who you can trust and appreciate.   Leaders come and go. Institutions can be unstable and unreliable. If you surround yourself with good people, then not only will your day-to-day experience feel more stable and enjoyable, but also you’ll have the energy to create positive change.  
• Invest in your wellness. Do the things that rejuvenate you. It will pay back in many ways. 

What skills did you use as a corps member that you use today?

All of them. I learned medical and procedural knowledge through medical school and training.  Everything else I learned while teaching. This spans from speaking to teenagers, giving bad news to a family, and even navigating different value systems to optimize goals of care. Schools and hospitals are similar in that there is a certain amount of chaos expected, but you can never predict when the chaos will erupt and to what degree.  I can easily walk into a chaotic, crazy, fast-paced hospital and stay calm for families and create structure for my learners.  

How does your TFA corps member experience affect the work you do today?

In every way. I am an excellent physician due to my time as a corps member. I learned to communicate and handle adversity. In a significant way, I learned my bedside manner from my time as a corps member.