PULSE Magazine | September 2019 Isssue

What is your favorite part about working here at ATCEMS? My favorite thing about our depart- ment is the comradery. We are like a family and, when you need it, the support is there in spades. Especially from your peers. I also love that I get to serve a city that I have always loved! There is NO place like Austin!

If you had guests visiting Austin for the weekend, where is the first place you would take them? I would probably take them to town lake for a morning jog/walk then to Kerby Lane for some pancakes, SoCo for some shopping and then Gueros for lunch and drinks. What is your favorite taco joint in town? My favorite taco joint would be any place with homemade tortillas. I grew up eating them freshly made and it turned me into a bit of a tortilla snob. lol What do you do on your days to relax and unwind? With two small children, there isn’t a whole lot of relaxing and unwinding going on lately. But, my wife and I try to take days off together where we send the boys to daycare and spend the day relaxing. That usually involves having a quiet breakfast, going to a movie, kayaking on the lake or having a glass of wine somewhere with a view. Who inspires you? Strong women inspire me. Moms are among the strongest women I know. You never know how strong you are until you are entirely in charge of a tiny person’s well-being and happiness. They depend on you for EVERYTHING. It is the absolute hardest and most fulfilling job I’ve ever had.

What is the next place you would like to visit? Why? Our next trip, and first trip as a family of 4, will likely be back to Colorado. We’ve been several times but are eager to take the boys. There’s something about the crisp mountain air and naturally beautiful landscape in Colorado that easily clears your head and makes you stop and appreciate nature. Word of advice for an aspiring medic? In this line of work, I would say empathy and a load of patience is your best friend and what will keep you here till retirement. It’s not always saving lives and playing rescue ranger. Most of our patients end up needing us in a different role. Sometimes it’s medic but it can also be social worker, psychiatrist or just a friend that listens. Try and remember that people that call are calling for help. What- ever that may be for them.

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