OUR DOCTORS

Helping people has always been a passion of mine. To be able to help people, especially children, for a living is a dream come true.  After my pediatric rotation in medical school, I knew there was no other field I wanted to pursue other than Pediatric gastroenterology. It is a challenging, exciting, and rewarding specialty that I am blessed to be a part of. The GI tract is complex and very intricately connected to our nervous system, which can lead to disorders that sometimes do not have a single best test for diagnoses. It is a specialty that requires trust and patience among the patient, family, and provider. I believe in taking care of the patient as a whole — mentally, emotionally, and physically. While there are many medications we use to treat GI disorders, I am also a firm believer that diet and appropriate nutritional balance can treat many disease processes.

I started my post-high school education right here in East TN, at Carson-Newman College (now University). It has a great pre-health professional program that fueled my interest in medicine. It is also the place I met my amazing husband, Jack, and therefore, will always hold a special place in my heart. Being a Mississippi girl, I went back to my home state for medical school at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. After medical school, I completed my internship, residency, and pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN.

My husband and I are excited to move back to East TN and show our girls all the wonderful things it has to offer. I am thankful to be on staff here at GI for Kids. I appreciate you all letting this Ole Miss girl treat your children in Big Orange Country.

.