Why did you become a physician?
My “job” growing up was to get good grades in school and to practice piano. I solo-ed with orchestras, gave personal recitals, and won state competitions from an early age all the way through high school, reaching top five in the country when I graduated from high school. I was expected by the music community in Atlanta to become a concert pianist. However, my love of music was balanced with an interest in math and science. My calling was to be able to help people, to touch people’s lives, to make a difference. And so, armed already with musical accomplishments, I went to medical school to learn more and to fulfill my destiny to be a healer. One of the best parts of primary care is the connection one can have with patients because of continuity of care. Being in practice now for twenty years has afforded the ability to have relationships across generations of families, and we all know that there is more to medicine that just labs and test results. We are all called to medicine from different paths, but I believe we all share the love of helping people, and it is truly an honor to be a physician.
Tell us about your educational and professional background
I graduated from Emory University summa cum laude with a double major in biology and music. I then stayed at Emory for medical school as well as residency in internal medicine in the primary care track. I met my husband, Dr. Stephen Mooney, during residency. He is originally from Lexington, and this is how I ended up here in Central Kentucky. After residency, I joined a private practice internal medicine group here in Lexington and was a part of that group for ten years. Then I was recruited by Dr. David Bensema and joined Baptist Health Lexington (now Baptist Health Medical Group). I have been a part of Baptist at the Beaumont location for the last ten years and serve on the East Region Leadership Council as well as the ACO Quality Committee. I also decided to become more active in the Lexington Medical Society and was a delegate to the KMA this year. In addition, I serve on KMA’s Long Range Planning Commission.
What are your interests outside of medicine?
My life is my family, and so most of my time outside of work is helping with homework and being the chauffeur for my 2 sons, ages 12 and 14. They have really picked up tennis since the COVID19 pandemic, so we go to a lot of tennis clinics and tournaments. I also enjoy reading and traveling and hope to get more time in the future to practice piano again.
Why did you join the Lexington Medical Society?
Being a part of the Lexington Medical Society has helped me learn more about advocacy and all the behind-the-scenes work that is needed to allow us to practice medicine and to deliver the excellent care to our patients that we all want to give. The dinners are a wonderful opportunity to fellowship with each other especially in these difficult times. Lexington Medical Society also helped me attend the Kentucky Physician Leadership Institute last year, and this was an outstanding experience that I would encourage all physicians to consider. We are each a leader in our own sphere of influence, whether to our patients, in our office, or in our community.