Physician Profile: Science, Public Service Attracted Emergency Department Physician to Medicine
April Anderson, MD, sees patients at Miami Valley Hospital.
What is your clinical specialty?
Emergency Medicine
Where did you go to school?
New York Medical College
What brought you to Premier Health?
My husband and I came to Ohio for fellowship. He trained at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, while I did fellowship at Wright State University and got assigned to work my clinical shifts at Miami Valley Hospital. It felt like a great fit and reminded me of where I did residency; so when fellowship was complete, I signed on with the emergency department group here, Miami Valley Emergency Specialists.
Why did you choose medicine as a career?
I loved science and was just fascinated by medicine from a young age. And my parents definitely encouraged me. My mom made me a construction paper human when I was in preschool. It had construction paper organs, and I would put them where they belonged and be very proud of myself!
Who are the people who influenced and/or mentored you?
Both of my parents have been a huge influence. I was super lucky to have wonderful mentors during residency, like Dr. Carol Barsky and Dr. Gail Donofrio. They are such amazing clinicians and care very deeply about their patients as individuals, while maintaining active research and quality improvement projects and being wives and mothers.
Since I have been here, I have had the good fortune to get to work with Dr. Darin Pangalangan and Dr. Keith Bricking. They are such forward thinkers and always have the interests of our patients front and center.
What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
I spent six years working on an ambulance, first as an EMT and then as a paramedic. I was very interested in public service and took a police exam at the same time as the MCATs.
Where is your hometown?
Pearl River, New York; but I was born in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.
What, if any, sports team(s) do you cheer for?
Obviously the Bronx Bombers, and the New York Yankees
What is the last book you read?
Anything by James Patterson! It’s such a guilty pleasure; but once I start one of his books, I’m hooked until the end.
What is your favorite song in your playlist?
I love anything by Blake Shelton or Zac Brown Band.
What is your favorite food?
Martio’s Pizza in Nanuet, New York
What are your favorite hobbies?
I spend my free time at the gym. My husband, Rich, got me hooked during residency. It was so great to have him there to show me the ropes, and that became our favorite thing to do together when we were dating.
Where is your favorite vacation spot, and why?
I love Key West because it’s got the best parts of a city vacation and a beautiful beach vacation all in one.
Describe something for which you are especially thankful:
I am so thankful for my husband and toddler son. I love seeing them together, and my son says that Dad is his best friend!
Pick a Side
iPhone or Android?
iPhone! Those folks at Apple are geniuses, and you can’t beat how seamlessly everything works together.
Early bird or night owl?
I would have said night owl for sure before I became a mom, but now I’m in bed the minute my son goes to sleep!
Beach bum or mountain hiker?
Beach for sure
Dress shoes or tennis shoes?
Tennis shoes
Paperback or e-reader?
E-readers are so awesome. I read on my phone most of the time, and it’s incredible to have all those books in the palm of my hand!
Coffee or tea?
Coffee. My mom got me a sign in med school that said something about having too much blood in my caffeine system, and that’s pretty accurate!
Cooking or baking?
Baking. My poor kid thinks dinner is ready when the microwave beeps.
Sweet or salty?
Sweet
Back to the April 2019 issue of Premier Pulse
