After graduating from college and law school, I started my legal career as a law clerk for a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. A federal clerkship is a prestigious job to get, but I loved it not only because I woke up each morning to research and write and run a few miles everyday for lunch through a small, quaint Ohio town, but because my judge was, and is, an incredible person. She remains a mentor and friend.

After my clerkship, I worked for a well respected regional law firm in Nashville doing corporate, securities, and regulatory work, mostly for healthcare clients. Once I had my first son, I took my practice home, retaining some legal clients as well as doing strategic planning work for law firms to optimize their performance and identify potential merger partners. I had my three sons while I continued in that work, as well as spending some time teaching legal research and writing and healthcare regulatory law.

My career took a turn when my youngest son was diagnosed with a rare and terminal genetic disorder at two years old. I spent the next years fighting for his life, raising money for research, and helping reshape clinical research in rare diseases like his. During that time, I founded and ran a nonprofit, Project Alive, consulted for pharmaceutical companies, and often spoke at FDA and industry conferences on advocacy, clinical trial design, and other relevant issues.

I also co-wrote the book, “Afraid of the Doctor: Every Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Managing Medical Trauma,” and numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. You can find my appearances on podcasts, an episode each of The Doctors and Inside the NBA, and other televised appearances and reported articles.

My passion is to take what I’ve learned and help others, so they don’t have to recreate the wheel.