Maria Thekkekandam, MD, MPH

I decided to become a physician in college when I realized the fulfillment that caring for others brought me. After partaking in summer volunteer projects that worked to improve health conditions for resource-poor communities, I knew I wanted to learn more about both pubic health and medicine. I believe that healthy communities start with having access to a trusted healthcare provider, who can help a patient understand and make decisions about their mental and physical well-being. A primary care physician is in a unique position of seeing a patient in continuity, spanning stages of life and across a variety of body systems. This in turn enables building of a trust-based relationship and empowering patients to take the best possible care of themselves. While I enjoy taking care of patients at all stages of life, I am particularly interested in mental health and procedures. Outside of work, I enjoy the outdoors, hiking, singing, painting and learning new skills “ for example, I am currently trying to teach myself how to play the ukulele.