I am a 34-year-old Gryffindor (yes, the Sorting Hat got it right) who still firmly believes that courage, loyalty, and a touch of humor belong in medicine. Born and raised in Russia, I followed in the footsteps of my mother—a physician whose humility and compassion remain my guiding light—and graduated from medical school there before beginning my journey in family medicine in the United States.
My greatest mentor, Dr. Angela Driskill, a wound care physician, showed me what it means to lead with kindness and compassion. I hope to grow into even a fraction of the doctor she is one day. My passions include wound care, geriatric medicine, and—above all—education. Whether teaching residents, patients, or my cat (who unfortunately still ignores evidence-based medicine), I believe in empowering others to reach their full potential.
To me, family physicians are the captains of the ship—we may not know every single detail of every specialty, but we organize, guide, and keep the entire crew moving smoothly. I want to help train future physicians to embrace the full scope of family medicine, practicing with confidence and heart.
I had the honor of being part of the very first graduating class of a brand-new residency program in North Little Rock, Arkansas, then helped open another new program as faculty in Lakeland, Florida. Now, I’ve joined Dr. Lyndsay Kramp—my former attending and ongoing inspiration—as Associate Program Director for the new Family Medicine Residency Program at Northwest Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. Together, we’re building something bold and exciting for the future of family medicine.
When I’m not teaching, mentoring, or working on wound care cases, you’ll likely find me reading, exploring Arizona, or trying (and failing) to train my cat to respect personal space during Online meetings.