What’s the best piece of professional advice you have ever received?
To not try to solve every challenge for students, but to help them learn to solve them for themselves and be there to support the learning process.
What’s the worst piece of professional advice you have ever received?
To suck it up and not speak.
What was the best book you most recently read?
Think again: The power of knowing what you don’t know
What do you think is the best, most challenging, or most unique thing about working in academic medicine (or your field or specialty specifically)?
The most challenging is the sheer volume of great work that is coming out keeping up! The best thing is that so much work and focus is now on DEI, disability and belonging!
What do you hope to gain from this online community?
A sense of community and rebuilding after the last two years.
Did you have an unusual path to your current career?
My path is anything but linear and I’ve quit planning because I could never have dreamed of such a rewarding career in medicine—at this stage I take it as it comes and am thoroughly enjoying watching the work, and my career, unfold.Thinking about all conferences, workshops, webinars you have attended in the last few years, was there a speaker or session topic that stands out as your favorite?Always, always the students. The student voice is central to informing my work.
How do you prefer to start your day?
Prefer to work out and watch the sun rise. The reality is that I usually look at my phone (this is a bad habit!)
How do you prefer to end your day?
A book or TV, or a great conversation with a friend.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?
That disability inclusion work is only for students. It’s truly focused on the community and creating a more welcoming and robust space for all stakeholders—empowering everyone!
You’re throwing a dinner party and can invite 3 people (alive or dead). Who do you invite?
Sonia Sotomayor, Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg
How did you maintain your wellness and resilience during the pandemic? Any tips to share with others?
It’s so hard. I have great mentors and work for an incredible institution—I took time when I needed it. When I needed to cry, I cried. I experienced a considerable amount of personal loss, and I wrote about it—which helped me process.
You live/work in Cleveland and Chicago. What’s your favorite restaurant there? Is there something special we should check out next time we visit?
Cleveland is highly under-appreciated. It’s a city of neighborhoods that are incredibly vibrant. Everyone should go! If you are in Chicago, go to Molly’s cupcakes—there’s nothing like it anywhere. Yummy!
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A Supreme Court Justice.
What do you do to turn things around when you’re having a bad day?
Spend time with my grandson Charlie and my kids or listen to music. I have a play list called “happy shit”; it works every time. I’ll turn it on and order up a dance party for 1–in the car, in my room/office doesn’t matter where and I’ll sing and dance.
If you could only have three apps on your smartphone, which would you pick?
United, Twitter, and texting (for my kids).
What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
Sting Ray
Do you have pets?
Not currently. I did have a St. Bernard, Etta James Jones. She was the love of my life!
**************************************************************************************************************************************
Say “hello” to Lisa here in the community! Feel free to post any questions you have for her in this thread, or direct message via the community is also a great way to connect.If you’d like to be featured in a future #MemberSpotlight post, please fill out this form.