Photograph by Dilip Vishwanat
Elaine Siegfried, M.D.
Pediatric Dermatologist
SLUCare, Saint Louis University Medical Group, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
“Watching a child go from suffering with chronic eczema or psoriasis to leading a normal life free, or nearly free, from an awful disease is so fulfilling. I know that I’ve made a positive impact on their entire life. The best thing about my work is that I don’t need special equipment to understand what’s going on with a patient; I just have to look at them. I wanted to be a pediatrician, but when I discovered dermatology, I found the best of both worlds.”
Mujtaba A. Qazi, M.D.
Ophthalmologist
Pepose Vision Institute
“Vision is our most valuable sense. The happiness and excitement experienced when a vision problem is successfully treated is shared by all involved in the process, including patients, family members, the treating physician, and the medical staff—that’s the biggest reward a doctor can have. As a cornea and refractive surgeon, I specialize in surgeries to improve the quality of vision and help people become less dependent on glasses and contacts. We can now improve vision in patients who aren’t optimal candidates for LASIK by implanting an artificial lens into the eye with the glasses prescription built in.”
Gladys Tse, M.D.
Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Washington University Center for Advanced Medicine, Women’s Health Center
“In my day-to-day life, I’m witness to miracles and allowed the honor of being part of some of the most important events in a woman’s life. Many think that obstetrics and gynecology focus only on delivering babies and caring for women in pregnancy. Although this is a large part of our field, there is also a significant amount of time and care that goes into the treatment of nonpregnant women. I love what I do, because I get to visit with my girlfriends every day. Mine is a remarkable profession, one I would never trade.”
Craig S. Holzem, M.D.
Family Physician
Patients First Health Care
“I feel very blessed to be a family physician. Maybe it’s because when it comes to medicine, I didn’t have to decide ‘what I wanted to be when I grew up.’ As a family physician, I don’t have to choose; I get to do it all. It’s rewarding to do a newborn physical in the nursery in the morning, treat a plethora of medical problems in the afternoon, and then visit with a 90-plus-year-old at the nursing home. It doesn’t get mundane or boring, and every day is something new.”
Linda R. Proctor, M.D.
Radiologist
Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Midwest Radiological Associates
“I have wanted to be a doctor since I was 5 years old. I was fascinated with the human body, and I thought being a physician would be so rewarding. During my third year of medical school, I did a radiology rotation and fell in love with the specialty and its ‘detective work’ aspect. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is using technology such as MRI, computed tomography, ultrasound, and mammography to find the cause for a patient’s suffering, especially when it turns out to be something that can be successfully treated.”
Joseph Duvall, M.D.
Dermatologist
St. John’s Mercy Medical Center
“To me, dermatology is the most exciting field. I’m a visual person, so dermatology just made sense to me. It can be challenging, but I love that about my work. We have so many new advances in treatments and medicines available that I can now treat people who I couldn’t help before. This makes my work very gratifying and rewarding. And in dermatology, not only can I literally see a difference in someone’s health, they can, too. I’ve been in practice 31 years, and I never get tired of meeting and helping patients.”
Laquita A. Graham, M.D.
Pediatrician
St. Louis Pediatric Associates
“I always saw myself working with kids, so being a pediatrician just made sense. Kids are a challenge, because they’re unpredictable and fun, which is what I love about my job. I treasure my work and am honored that I’m allowed to be part of my patients’ lives. I strive to continually educate myself and my patients and their parents. I believe education helps them understand the course of treatment and embrace the care being given. It’s so rewarding to see my patients grow and know that I’ve, in some small way, impacted their whole life.”
Lyndon B. Gross, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon
The Orthopedic Center of St. Louis
“I’ve always been fascinated by the human body and its ability to recover from injuries. Since I was a collegiate athlete, it made sense to do orthopedic surgery with an emphasis in sports medicine. It’s true I work with collegiate and pro athletes, but I love working with the ‘weekend warriors’ and folks who are dealing with a knee, shoulder, or elbow injury that’s impacting their quality of life. I tell my patients that we’re on the same team, with the same goal: to free them from pain and help them get back to doing the things they love.”
Michael Wong, M.D., Ph.D.
Pediatric Specialist in Neurology, Epilepsy
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
“I’ve always been interested in the brain because the brain controls everything. I love working with kids because they’re more fun. But more important, it’s because treating a child can have far-reaching implications for their entire life. I’m constantly amazed at the resiliency of children—and their parents—to handle difficult diagnoses and treatment. I spend a great deal of time educating my patients and their parents to make sure they understand what will happen during and after treatment and beyond. I’m also passionate about my research into brain disorders and the search for more effective treatments.”
Lannis E. Hall-Daniels, M.D.
Radiation Oncologist
Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center
“My grandmother died at 55 from metastatic colon cancer, my grandfather from lung cancer. My grandparents were instrumental in raising me, and their loss was incalculable at the time. To learn that their cancers were preventable was depressing, but it steered me into a field where I can meet people at a low point in their lives and watch them move on to find joy again after cancer treatment. I’m passionate about the prevention of cancer and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, so I try to dedicate part of my time to prevention awareness and screenings.”
