Meet Heather Ferris, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at UVA School of Medicine.
This post is part of a series of interviews with new and junior faculty. Stay tuned for more interviews with your colleagues.
Q: How long have you been at UVA and where were you before you came to UVA?
I actually started out at UVA in the MSTP program from 1998-2006. I then went to the University of Pittsburgh for internal medicine residency and Beth Israel Deaconess/Joslin Diabetes Center joint endocrine fellowship after that. I spent another 5 years in Boston at Joslin before returning to UVA in April 2017 to start an independent lab.
Q: Is there something that you’ve worked on or accomplished in your career that you’re particularly proud of or glad you were able to experience?
I am an endocrinologist researching the brain. I never thought that this was where my research career would lead; however, I found that there were so many open questions in the area of diabetes and Alzheimer’s/dementia that needed both areas of expertise to really get at the answer. I think I have been pretty successful so far at providing new perspectives in this area. I am also very proud of the research team I have been putting together since I arrived in Charlottesville. There is someone with a background in diabetes, someone else with training in Alzheimer’s research and another in neuroimmunology. I am really excited to see where this group, who reflects my diverse interests, take the projects in our lab.
Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Teacher, park ranger, archeologist – I think I wanted to be a scientist from the beginning, I just called it different things.
Q: Do you have any children or fur babies at home that you would like to tell us about?
I have a first grade daughter at home who helps remind me to take a break and enjoy life outside of work. She also loves to join me in the lab when school is cancelled!
Q: Do you have a favorite local restaurant or hangout spot?
Our dining these days is decidedly kid friendly. Blue Mountain Brewery is one of the places that makes us all happy and is in such a lovely setting.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
I’ve talked a lot about research, but I still see patients. My favorite are older patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Filed Under: Faculty Interviews, Interviews, Junior Faculty Interviews
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