From Patient to Provider

What was it like growing up with hemophilia?

There are a lot of growing pains when you grow up a little bit different. We all have differences, whether it’s your sexuality or your nationality, or something else. Mine happened to be related to health. I was lucky because a lot of my family members are in medicine, so I grew up in a really positive environment when it came to my condition.

When did you start treatment at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland?

I have been at Children’s Hospital Oakland for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t just a hospital to me, it was a community – a second home. I had my annual checkups and hospital stays, but I also spent a lot of time with the hemophilia community here. There were events, holiday parties around Christmas, summer camps. There was always something going on.

What inspired you to go into medicine?

I was really active as a kid, and I was an athlete in high school and college. I got hurt a lot, and – this might sound weird – I really enjoyed the rehab process. I enjoyed the pain of growth and development and recovery. The human body really fascinated me. So physical therapy just seemed like the right fit.

What made you decide to return to UCSF?

I always felt like I wanted to come back. And as I went through school, I realized I wanted to work in pediatrics. As a physical therapist, when you work with kids, your job is to play, to make things meaningful and fun. That really drives me as a professional. I also realized that I wanted to give back to the community that gave me so much.

How has your experience as a patient influenced your work as a provider?

I try to be the provider that I always wanted. Doctors want to make you better, but when you have a genetic condition, you don’t get better. This is just my life, right? So, I don’t set out to make kids better. My goal is to empower them to focus on what's possible. To make sure that when they leave here, they feel they can go out there and succeed.

What’s it like working with children being treated for cancer and blood disorders?

It’s so unique. My job is to get them moving and make them happy through play. Sometimes it’s easy, like before they start a treatment cycle. We hang out, we play hopscotch, tag, or hide and seek in the halls. Sometimes it’s harder. They’re going through treatment. They’re in pain and miserable. So, we play more low-key games or do some gentle stretching. Sometimes they can’t get out of bed. They can’t move. Their muscles don’t work. So, I shift from being a coach to being a friend. I just listen.

Sometimes it’s great. It’s the most rewarding experience to watch them grow, complete treatment, and ring the bell. You go home knowing you did your job. On the opposite side, not everyone is that lucky. Some of them lose their fight, and you feel like you lost a friend. But this is what we signed up for. We are here for the good, the bad, all of it.

Do you ever share your own experiences with your patients?

All the time. I think kids like to know that there are people like them out there. There’s a certain level of unspoken camaraderie when you know you’re not the only one.