​I grew up in the suburbs of New York City, specifically in Westchester County. My mother raised my sister and me as a single parent after my father passed away from leukemia when I was just two years old. She worked diligently to ensure we were well cared for and received a quality education. Although our early years were not extravagant, I quickly learned that if I wanted something special or extra, I would need to work hard for it. I held summer jobs, which helped me appreciate the value of my earnings—not only for the character they built but also for the things I could afford. To help pay for my undergraduate education at Columbia and medical school at Rush, I took out student loans, which I did not finish repaying until I was 40. All of these experiences shaped who I am today. From as early as second grade, I knew I was destined to become a physician, a path influenced by the impact of losing my father to illness.

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I retired in February 2022 after a fulfilling career as a head and neck surgeon at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. My professional journey surpassed my expectations; I had the privilege of helping many patients and take particular pride in my role in standardizing head and neck cancer and thyroid surgery programs at Kaiser. 

 

Being gay and training in New York during the 1980s, as the AIDS crisis emerged, was challenging because of prevalent homophobia. Fortunately, after completing my residency, I moved to San Francisco, where I could be open about who I am. This also gave me the opportunity to serve as a role model for medical students and residents who might be struggling with their sexual identity during those difficult years. 

 

I am married to my husband, Scott, and we have been together since 1992. We share our lives with two energetic and lovable English Cocker Spaniels, Monty and Archie. Upon retiring, we relocated to San Diego, which became our home base for exploring the world, experimenting with new and old recipes for our friends—always accompanied by a good glass of wine. Even after spending more than half of my life in California, I have always considered myself a New Yorker living in California. I am excited to share that we are in the process of moving back to New York City to begin our next chapter.

 

Retirement has given me the opportunity to become more involved in the community and to enjoy a less structured and stressful lifestyle compared to my days in the operating room. In addition to traveling and indulging my love of good food—both preparing and eating it—I usually have a couple of books on my reading list: one I read physically and another I listen to while cooking. I aim to hike about once a week and go to the gym five or six days a week to balance my enthusiasm for food and to stay fit for future adventures. Teaching at the medical school at UCSD is another passion I have continued in this new phase of life. 

 

If you have made it through this biography and are still wondering why you should follow my posts, I invite you to join me in appreciating all things beautiful—starting with the people we meet and their diverse life experiences and cultures, as well as the art, architecture, gardens, hikes, special hotels, and restaurants we discover during our travels. I also share in the joys of retail therapy that we encounter along the way. I hope you will enjoy this journey with me.