Establishing a good patient-physician relationship is crucial to help provide the best care. I believe in allowing ample time in a visit to listen to my patients' needs and thoroughly explain their diagnosis and treatment plan. Most podiatric issues can be treated with aggressive conservative therapy, although when surgical intervention is necessary, I will communicate that to the patient in a direct and concise manner. 

Dr. O'Brien is Medical Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at South Shore Health. 

As a Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician, I am dedicated to caring for women and families navigating high-risk and medically complex pregnancies with expertise, compassion, and individualized attention. 

I strive to integrate evidence-based medicine with a holistic approach that recognizes the physical, emotional, and social factors that shape each patient’s experience. 

I am also committed to advocating for equitable healthcare and improving access and outcomes for marginalized and underserved communities.

My treatment philosophy is to establish good rapport with patients during their difficult moments, and to focus on shared decision-making while working on treatment plans and management of acute issues.

I have been practicing medicine for more than 20 years now. I like communicating with patients while focusing on their medical issues and helping formulate plans to meet the treatment needs. Apart from medicine, I enjoy spending time with my two boys, cooking and baking. I am an avid nature lover and enjoy hiking. Exploring new places brings me true happiness. Yoga and meditation helps me unwind after hectic days. 

My mission is to provide an accurate diagnosis in patient's with complicated presentations and complex disease states.

I am drawn to Hospital Medicine for the acute care problem solving. I believe that the patient's "story" should be accurately presented and the diagnosis should "fit" the presentation. If it doesn't, the work up continues to reveal the missing piece of the puzzle. Communicating the plan of care and expectations re:hospital course allow for a more positive experience during an otherwise difficult time. Outside of work I enjoy spending time near the water in the Ocean State and attending car shows.

My mission is to provide patient-centered care allowing our patients to access trustworthy and well-informed care.

My personal philosophy in life is to be kind and compassionate. My background is in adult-gerontology and neurosurgery. I aim to create patient-centered relationships where my patients feel comfortable disclosing any concerns. In addition, I aim to provide open communication. Outside of work, I enjoy volunteering at a local nursing home and a local food bank, and performing in an dance group in ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip hop. I also enjoy hiking and exploring local trails.

My mission is to provide safe, high quality, patient centered care in collaboration with the patient, their family, and other providers on the care team to promote the patient’s goals of care and overall well-being.

It is a privilege to advance my role as a nurse anesthetist at South Shore Hospital. It is of utmost importance to me that I gain the trust of my patients and involve them in the plan of care with effective communication and transparency. Being an advocate for my patients during the perioperative period is my priority. When I am not at work, I enjoy gardening, hiking, spending time at the beach, and cooking.

I grew up on the South Shore and attended Holy Cross for college where my concentration was pre-medical sciences and sleep research. During summers in college I worked as an EMT and following college I worked in a collaborative Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School lab studying allergy and asthma. While at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Lahey Clinic my focus was on primary care internal medicine. In 2006 I was the recipient of the “Patient Care Award” which is Lahey Clinic’s highest physician honor. I joined South Shore Medical Center in 2006.

I earned my Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College and my medical degree from Loyola University in Chicago. Upon graduation from Loyola, I returned to my native Long Island to complete my residency in pediatrics at SUNY Stony Brook. Following an additional year as Chief Resident, I returned to Massachusetts to settle. Professionally, I cherish the privilege of establishing long-term relationships with my patients' families and playing a small role in assisting a child to blossom into a happy, healthy, well-adjusted adult. In my spare time, I enjoy kayaking, practicing yoga, going to the beach, and spending time with my husband and five children.
 

In my career as an emergency physician, I have gotten to take care of patients in both the usual emergency department setting as well as some other unusual environment. Regardless of the location, one thing remains the same - it is about the patient and the care they need at a time of medical crisis. I spend most of my time outside of work, still engaged in medicine with a variety of emergency response organizations as well as the military.

As a primary care clinician, I have the opportunity to develop a trusting partnership with my patients and their families to help them live a healthy lifestyle. I enjoy diagnosing and treating the various illnesses that affect patients during their lifetime, and take great pleasure in seeing them recover. It is important for me to listen carefully to my patients' concerns so we can work together to meet their individual healthcare needs.  

In my free time, I enjoy swimming, running, cycling, and skiing, in addition to spending time with my husband, adult children, and our new granddaughter.