It was 2001 when I made the decision to go to medical school.

I was working as a registered dietitian for about a year then, in a network of family health centers in far flung neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens.

As much as I believed (and still do) that good nutrition was essential for health, I was frustrated with my day to day. I felt that there was more in me.

I saw the residents in clinic and how they cared for patients and I knew I could do at least as good a job as them. I watched as physicians in leadership roles took credit for my work.

Then two events happened in September that sealed my decision.

I became a patient.

After years of my pain being dismissed as normal by doctors I was diagnosed with endometriosis.

I had bilateral large endometriomas and was scheduled for surgery.

I found a doctor that listened to me and she changed my life.

“After years of my pain being dismissed as normal by doctors I was diagnosed with endometriosis.”

I was on my way to pre-op testing by subway when the first of the twin towers was hit. In addition to the horror and sadness, I was overcome with helplessness, and even though very few patients came through the area emergency rooms that day I felt bad that I was unable to volunteer.

I enrolled in physics that Spring to complete my prerequisites, which is where I met my husband, but that’s a story for another day.

I worked as a RD for 5 years before starting medical school and even worked a little on the side during med school.

I still love nutrition science and I’m still happy I became a physician and I’m finally finding real ways to blend my two careers.