Mom was very loving, but was limited by painful and crippling arthritis, and she needed me to be helpful and understanding of her limitations. I found meaning in caring for her, and at a young age I felt needed and responsible. The field of medicine seemed a natural course to take with its mix of academic challenge and opportunities for giving care.

A remote ranch near Zion National Park drew Dad to southern Utah every summer. The day school ended, he left his job, and Dad, Mom, and I left the city and drove cross-country to live without electricity, phones, TV, or other modern conveniences. The ranch housed books that I read again and again, and the mountains, thunderstorms, sunsets, and stars were our screen savers. I was blessed with a body that can climb a mountain, scrub a floor, and weed an alfalfa field. And when work is done, I like to boogie board, ski, dance, bike, play tennis, and read books to my grandchildren or take them to the park or rec center.

I left my residency training in Internal Medicine to care for my parents when my mother became bed ridden. During this time, I decided to attend business school to learn how to run my future medical practice. But I found the public service aspects of not-for-profit administration more attractive than the for-profit side of business, so I got a master’s degree in Public Administration.

The former Dean of my medical school opened doors for me into healthcare administration. I started working for Intermountain Healthcare in 1991, and while there got another master’s degree in Public Health and found my professional vocation in the field of Preventive Medicine. Over the years, I have advocated for tobacco control and cessation, cancer screenings, heart healthy lifestyles, and vaccines.

At 45, I married a like-minded, caring, and interesting spouse who gave me 7 children and their children to love. He talked about joy and finding growth and purpose in life. When I met Richard, I recognized what I’d been waiting for.

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