Talk with a Doc

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Donna Pizzelanti, a physician at Middlebrook Family Physicians Practice in Bound Brook NJ. Donna has been in practice for twenty-four years. Dr. Pizzelanti received her undergraduate degree from Boston University, went to medical school at the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, and did her residency at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. As a family practice physician, Dr. Pizzelanti’s responsibilities are to take care of patients and fill out paperwork along with her patient’s charts. During the interview, Dr. Pizzelanti and I concluded that there are limitations to sustainability in a doctor’s office. Still, it is practiced in her work through actions like shredding and recycling documents, having automatic motion sensor lights that turn off when not in use, and having climate control in the building. A few barriers to having a more sustainable work environment are not being able to reuse medical supplies, the physicians constantly using water to wash their hands, and having to dispose of medical waste in a specific way. Dr. Pizzelanti has numerous patients to see on a daily basis, so it’s hard to regulate the sustainably of each patient. Treating sick patients and making them feel better is the most rewarding part of her job, and dealing with insurance companies is the most challenging aspect of her career. Certain insurance companies will not cover specific tests or treatment plans, making it difficult to give adequate care to patients. I took away from this interview that you have to have a passion for helping others and a willingness to work hard because most healthcare jobs are very demanding.

https://www.icloud.com/photos/#088sb5TLRvImaU3B-u5hCBYKg