Jackson Hospital | Partners | Summer 2021

jackson.org 11 Q Why did you get into the healthcare field? I felt called to healthcare and wanted to help make a difference in people’s lives. Q What interested you in your particular specialty (endocrinology)? I was given the opportunity to transfer over to work with Dr. Niaz and have enjoyed the specialty ever since. I am intrigued by the difference small changes to someone’s lifestyle or medication can make in this specialty. Q What is the most rewarding part of your job? Watching motivated patients make drastic lifestyle changes and become successful in their health. I am so grateful I get to be a part of that journey with them. Q What is the most challenging aspect of your job? Trying to make sure our patients have ac- cess to all the medications and information they need to help manage their disease state. I also have had to learn to avoid bring- ing the hard parts of this job home with me. Maria Silva, RN GET TO KNOW A JHC PROVIDER Q What has changed in your field since you started practicing? I have only been in endocrinology for eight months, so that’s a hard question to answer. I have loved the new technology being added to help diabetics manage their care. Q What do you see changing in healthcare in the next five to 10 years? I hope in five to 10 years we will have better prevention and screening methods for some disease states. Q What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Spending time with my family and friends. I stay so busy with school and work, the time I do get to spend with them is so important to me. Q What advice would you give someone looking to become a nurse? Don’t become a nurse if you don’t care about people. I love my job, and I love being able to come to work every day to make a difference in someone’s life. You spend so much time with your patients that they start to become family. The Jackson Clinic offers diabetes education courses to help you live better with diabetes by offering education on topics such as diet, meal planning, use of insulin injections and pumps, blood sugar monitoring, and physical activity. Talk to your endocrinologist about our diabetes education program at your next visit!