DANVILLE — Christen Maria Mowad, an associate in the Geisinger Medical Center Dermatology Division and president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology, always knew she’d wind up being a doctor.
After all, she had the perfect role model: her father, Joseph, a urologist at Geisinger.
“I knew what it meant to be a doctor,” she said, “because it was always a part of my home life. I knew about the often long hours, and the dedication required to be a physician. Thanks to my father, I could see that being a doctor was a noble profession.”
Mowad did admit, however, to a brief flirtation with politics.
“I worked on Capitol Hill as an intern for Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, 11th District, but ultimately, I felt like I could accomplish more, help people more, as a physician,” she said.
Mowad graduated summa cum laude from Bucknell University and then went to the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine in 1987.
At medical school, students are exposed to various specialties, and that is when Mowad said she fell in love with dermatology.
“It’s an extremely visual field,” she said. “Patients can actually see their problem. And, over time, they can see the improvements made after treatment.”
Mowad also liked the idea of establishing long-term relationships with her patients. Often, with dermatologic problems, there are no set cures, so doctors and patients meet regularly through the years.
“It’s very gratifying when a patient can see progress,” she said. “There is a psychological aspect to this as well. Helping a patient can change their entire outlook on life. You wind up helping their skin and their psyche.”
Throughout her professional career, she also has enjoyed taking leadership positions in local and statewide professional groups.
Mowad’s appointment as an officer of the state’s largest dermatology society will allow her to focus on member education, patient safety and scope of practice.
“I am honored to represent the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery as president,” she said. “The PAD is a very active group representing more than 300 dermatologists and is working to improve patient care issues as well.”
With such a full agenda, you’d think Mowad wouldn’t have time for anything else.
But, she has a family of her own that requires care. “I have two young children,” she said, with a laugh. “They keep me busy.”
n In a salute to “People in Uniform,” we are profiling those who respond in cases of emergency and come to the aid of others. They include police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, prison guards, doctors and nurses. If you would like to be included in this series or know someone who should, let us know. Send your name, hometown, contact information and a brief description of the job to Joanne Arbogast, c/o The Daily Item, 200 Market St., Sunbury, PA 17801, e-mail jarbogast@dailyitem.com or call 286-3954.
News
Related Photos
-
Photo provided
Discussion
Danville doctor heads up state academy
- News
-
-
Memorial Day Observances
Here is a listing of Memorial Day events this weekend in the Central Susquehanna Valley.
-
Four charged in ripoffs that hurt eight local senior citizens
Four Philadelphia men have been charged with operating an elaborate scam that targeted hundreds of elderly residents across Pennsylvania, including eight Valley seniors.
-
Midd-West taxpayers face increase of $109
MIDDLEBURG — The Midd-West School District on Thursday night announced an average property tax increase of $109 to help offset its $1.8 million budget deficit for the 2012-13 school year.
Midd-West will also close two elementary schools, consolidate two middle schools, cut programs and furlough seven teachers and 23 other staff members. -
Jokester cop tased intern at station
NORTHUMBERLAND — A Northumberland police detective claims in a lawsuit filed Wednesday he was wrongly blamed after an officer shot an intern with a Taser gun while fooling around at the police station in December.
-
Jerry Sandusky charity to shut down and transfer programs
PHILADELPHIA — The charity for troubled youths started by Jerry Sandusky more than three decades ago — and through which the retired Penn State assistant football coach met the boys he is charged with sexually abusing — said today it is seeking court approval to shut down and transfer its programs to a Texas-based youth ministry that serves abused and neglected children.
-
Man pleads guilty in 2006 Penn State student death
STATE COLLEGE — A man whose murder conviction was previously thrown out in the fatal beating of a Penn State student six years ago has pleaded guilty in the killing under a deal with prosecutors.
-
Streaker at Phillies-Cardinals game last night lost a bet
ST. LOUIS — The streaker who ran naked onto the field during a Cardinals game says he did so because he lost a bet.
-
Privately-operated Dragon capsule arrives at space station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space station astronauts have captured the Dragon. The privately bankrolled Dragon capsule arrived at the International Space Station today, making history as the first commercial delivery truck in orbit
-
10 Things to Know Today
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today (times EDT):
-
LARA: Charred bridge sound
LEWISBURG — The fire-damaged railroad bridge crossing the Susquehanna River at Lewisburg is structurally sound following the March fire that discolored steel and charred roughly 400 ties, the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority said at its meeting Thursday.
-
Stat of the Day: $2.6 million
Stat of the Day: $2.6 million.
That's what President Barack Obama has spent on advertising in Iowa, which may be a battleground state in November's election against presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
-
Northampton County jury sentences man to death in officer killing
EASTON — Jurors in eastern Pennsylvania have sentenced a man to death for fatally shooting a police officer last summer.
- More News Headlines
-
