1. What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up – to heading to bed?

I am usually up by 7 a.m. I make sure my three monsters… I mean boys… are getting ready for school. Once they are dressed and have attempted to clean their rooms and teeth, it’s off to the nanny for breakfast. I rush to finish my outfit for the day (very important!). Then, I make sure everyone has their bags, school agendas, any forms signed, winter pants or skates – whatever the day requires. Next, I check that the nanny knows their after school agendas. For example: hockey, karate, etc. (For those of you without kids, God help you if you ever have more than one boy who is athletic and plays hockey!) Lastly, I eat breakfast and try to enjoy. I make sure I have my briefcase and my lunch. Out the door by 8 a.m. or the kids are late for school. 

8 to 8:45 a.m. Car ride – this usually takes 45 minutes to one hour. Yes, I drive about seven blocks to the first school, one mile to the next and then head into the downtown traffic as my office is at Bay and Bloor.  

8:45 to 8:55 a.m. Arrive at my clinic, Bay Dermatology Centre. I check reception to make sure all is clean and the Learning Centre computers are working. I chat with my office manager and nurse to make sure all is well. 

9 a.m. I drink coffee or Chinese tea with ginseng and Royal Jelly to give me energy. 

9:05 a.m. I check my desk, urgent messages, renewals and lab results. 

9:10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. I see patients continually and finish between 4 and 4:30 .m. I don’t take a formal lunch and usually eat between patients or not at all. I don’t book past 3:30 p.m. but I am always behind.  

4:30ish – I finish my charting, check e-mails, check banking, pay bills, fill out forms, check labs, check mail… and try to leave by 5 p.m. Never happens! 

5 to 5:30 p.m. Leave for home. 

OR 

5 to 5:30 p.m. Rush to hockey game. From September to April, about 50 per cent of the time I rush from work to one of my son’s hockey games.  

6 p.m. Eat dinner with or without the kids and my husband. Chat about the day. 

7 p.m. – I make sure homework is done, lizards and fish are fed and rooms are tidy. Then I play with my sons and/or help with homework. 

8 to 8:30 p.m. I read with all three boys and tuck them into bed. 

9 p.m. I make sure their school bags are ready for the next day, including forms, equipment, etc.  

9:30 p.m. – Glass of red wine, some nights! 

9:30 to 10 p.m. I check e-mail, pay bills, work on academic papers or read – there is no typical here. 

11 p.m. I try to go to bed at the same time. In medicine we call this good Sleep Hygiene.  It is important to try and keep your sleep regular; it makes you more productive. 

2. What was your first job out of school?

As a physician, well, you finish and then you start practicing.   

3. What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well?

I really have three full-time jobs: 

      i. Mom – Patience, love, and “Don’t sweat the small stuff”( I need to work on that one).

      ii. President and business owner of Bay Dermatology Centre – Confidence, hard work and learn to delegate by surrounding yourself with good people. 

      iii. Dermatologist – Knowledge, caring and humility.

4. What do you love most about your career?

I love to help people. In dermatology, you can really make a huge impact on a person’s life by clearing whatever skin issue they have. People take their skin for granted until they have an issue. There can be a stigma attached to having a “rash”. People look at you differently and, unfortunately, often treat you differently.  I really enjoy my sub-specialty Allergic Contact Dermatitis, where I act like a detective to discover what a person may or may not be allergic to. The Occupational cases can be very rewarding. Lastly, as a female, I have really grown to love the cosmetic aspect of dermatology. I feel it is my duty to do it right. There are too many places interesting in pushing and selling products and procedures. I never tell anybody what they need; I ask them what bothers them and see if I can offer something to help 

5. Do you have any warnings?

Don’t listen to negative people. Accept constructive criticism, but dismiss negative advice. I never let what anyone says stop me from doing something I want to do. As I tell my children, no mistake is bad if you learn from it. I think you need to make a few mistakes to be successful. If you really love something go for it. It will take a lot of hard work and dedication, but don’t sacrifice your personal life for your career. Family and friends are most important. Find time every week for yourself. And take it from me, you can have both, it just takes even more work. 

6. If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be?

I really enjoy fashion and art. I would love a job as curator of a gallery or museum with a focus on the history of fashion or photography.