Hospice & Palliative Medicine
Med School/Year Graduated: University of the Philippines, 2003
Years in Practice: 19
How do you handle the emotional heft of your work? What are some self-care practices you employ?
At day’s end, I try to think of three things that made me content. Was it when I made waffles for my boys, gulping down my two-minute coffee, or when planning with my patients? Takes practice, but worth it!
Are there patients who have remained in your heart long after they’ve passed? Can you share one?
I cared for a World War II pilot-cum-photographer, who always excitedly shared his aerial picture albums with me. Asking people what matters most gets me to hearing the tales that define them. To quote Doctor Who: “We’re all stories in the end.”
What are your thoughts on end-of-life doulas? Have you worked in concert with any?
Geriatric and palliative medicine values multidisciplinary care and the power of walking someone through the processes of life, making me open to want the experience of having a doula on a care team. Hoping I’ll have the privilege one day!
How does your background in psychology inform your approach?
Psychology compels you to look for facts, given its strong research foundations, but at the same time requires you to make sense of human dynamics and phenomena in a holistic, nuanced way – something we always aim for in therapeutic encounters.
You’re from the Philippines! Favorite Filipino restaurant in the Valley?
Shoutout to Central Phoenix’s Flaming Pig, as well as Scooptopia’s ice cream, soft tofu, boba and halo-halo! Toduken pop-up is love, and Halo-Halo Kitchen’s homestyle hot bar food and Casa Filipina’s baked goods never fail.
What are your hobbies and interests outside medicine?
Traveling and trying out new restaurants with the family, catching up on reading articles and streaming media. Hoping I can also delve into what’s new on my Spotify playlists soon!
What are you streaming on TV these days?
I’m on-and-off rewatching The Wire, Star Trek and Doctor Who; trying to catch up on my K-drama shows and discovered this adorable Filipino cooking-themed drama series called Replacing Chef Chico on Netflix!
“If I wasn’t a doctor, I’d be…”
A personal assistant to Anthony Bourdain, Stephen Colbert, Andrew Zimmern, Ted Allen or Phil Rosenthal. Failing that, passing out Proust questionnaires at parties or looking for collaborators to produce or write music.
