When I reflect on my journey from radiologist to CEO and founder of a mission-driven foundation, one thing stands out: the profound connection between parenting, purpose, and philanthropy. These aren’t separate parts of my life but deeply intertwined lessons that have shaped how I lead, care, and contribute.
As a father, a physician, and someone deeply involved in philanthropic work—particularly supporting women’s leadership in sports and mental health initiatives—I’ve learned that building something meaningful requires patience, vision, and a willingness to give beyond yourself. In this blog, I want to share some personal insights on how parenting and philanthropy have informed my sense of purpose, and how they have guided me as a leader in both medicine and life.
Parenting Taught Me the Value of Patience and Presence
Parenting is the ultimate exercise in patience. Watching a child grow, learn, and find their own way demands that you slow down and be present. You learn to celebrate small victories and handle setbacks with grace. You understand that growth doesn’t happen overnight—it’s a steady, sometimes messy process.
This perspective has deeply influenced how I approach leadership in my radiology practice and foundation work. Leading a team or running a foundation requires that same patience. You can’t rush people or expect instant results. Instead, you invest time in relationships, nurture potential, and create an environment where growth is possible.
In both parenting and philanthropy, presence matters more than grand gestures. Being there—truly engaged—is what builds trust and connection. This has helped me become a more thoughtful leader, one who listens carefully and leads with empathy.
Finding Purpose Through Giving Back
My foundation focuses on causes close to my heart: empowering women in elite sports, supporting mental health initiatives, and fighting diseases like pancreatic cancer, ALS, and pediatric cancer. These causes are personal and purposeful. They remind me daily that our work—whether in healthcare or philanthropy—is about more than careers or profits. It’s about impact.
Philanthropy has given me a deeper sense of purpose. It’s taught me that leadership means using your platform to make a difference beyond your immediate circle. When I see young women athletes grow into confident leaders, or patients and families finding hope through research and care, it reaffirms why I do what I do.
Purpose-driven work demands authenticity. You can’t just write a check and walk away. It requires commitment, partnership, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations. It’s about building a legacy of positive change that lasts.
How Parenting and Philanthropy Shape Leadership
There are surprising overlaps between parenting and running a foundation that have helped me grow as a CEO. Both require balancing vision with practical day-to-day care. You set goals and dreams for your children or your foundation, but you also pay attention to the details—whether that’s a child’s emotional needs or a program’s impact metrics.
Both parenting and philanthropy are about cultivating potential. You don’t just provide resources; you create opportunities. This has shaped how I lead my radiology group. I try to build a culture where every member feels supported to develop and take on leadership roles, just like a parent encourages their child to explore and grow.
Another key lesson is resilience. Parenting tests your patience and flexibility daily. Philanthropy often requires perseverance in the face of slow progress or setbacks. These experiences have strengthened my ability to stay focused on long-term goals while adapting to challenges—a critical skill in healthcare leadership.
The Importance of Mission-Driven Work
When we started our foundation, it was clear that mission had to be at the core. Without a compelling mission, it’s easy for organizations to lose direction or become distracted by competing priorities.
A clear mission helps rally people around a shared vision. It inspires commitment and guides decision-making. In our foundation, supporting women’s leadership through elite sports and advancing mental health initiatives keeps us grounded and purposeful. It reminds us that every dollar spent, every event hosted, and every partnership formed is a step toward a bigger goal.
In healthcare, I see the same principle. Radiology practices with a strong mission—centered on patient care, innovation, and collaboration—tend to be more successful and enduring. Purpose drives passion, and passion fuels excellence.
Giving Back Isn’t Just About Charity—It’s About Community
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that philanthropy isn’t just about writing checks—it’s about building community. Our foundation’s work connects us with athletes, researchers, families, and healthcare professionals. It creates relationships that go beyond transactions and foster mutual support.
This sense of community reflects what I strive for in my radiology practice as well. Medicine can be isolating, but when you build a supportive team culture and engage with the broader healthcare ecosystem, you create a stronger foundation for care and innovation.
Giving back is also deeply personal. It reminds me of my parents’ example—my dad, a nuclear engineer, and my mom, a practicing OB/GYN—both dedicated to serving others through their work. Their example instilled in me the value of contributing to something larger than myself.
Balancing Life’s Roles: Physician, Parent, Philanthropist
Balancing the roles of physician, parent, and philanthropist hasn’t always been easy. Each demands time, energy, and focus. But rather than seeing these roles as competing, I’ve learned to view them as complementary.
Parenting grounds me. It keeps me humble and reminds me what truly matters. Philanthropy fuels my passion and sense of responsibility to give back. Medicine challenges me intellectually and fulfills my desire to help others directly.
Together, these roles create a holistic sense of purpose. They remind me that success isn’t just about professional achievement but about living a life aligned with values and making a meaningful difference.
Closing Thoughts: Building a Legacy of Purpose
Parenting, purpose, and philanthropy are threads woven through my life and leadership. They’ve taught me that building something meaningful—whether a family, a foundation, or a medical practice—takes intentionality, patience, and heart.
For anyone looking to create a lasting impact, I encourage you to find your purpose beyond the daily grind. Invest in relationships, nurture potential, and remember that giving back enriches not only others but yourself.
At the end of the day, leadership is about serving something bigger than yourself. That’s the legacy I strive to leave through my work and through the foundation I’m proud to lead.