4 Questions with Amanda

Amanda, what inspired you to enter medicine?Amanda Whisnant
As a young child, I was diagnosed with asthma. In those days, it was a scary and unfamiliar diagnosis for families to receive. I was constantly shuffled back & forth between pulmonology and allergy appointments. Though it was a scary, it helped prepare me to be more sympathetic and understanding to parents & children facing a difficult diagnosis. I was also positively influenced by many relatives in the healthcare field (MDs, NPs, and RNs). During my middle and high school years, I started volunteering in a local Ambulatory Care Center & Hospital, in areas such as the ER, Pre-op/Post-op & Pharmacy. Another huge impact on my life was going on my first Medical Mission Trip to Honduras during Nursing School.

 

What do you like most about your job?
What I like most about my job is caring for and connecting with patients, developing a trusting relationship with the family & child, and watching precious children grow up. I have been a NP for over 10 years. Healthcare is constantly changing, demanding continuous growth & education to stay current on the latest guidelines & recommendations. While it is a challenging career, the rewards of helping others in their time of need make it worth it.

Amanda playing doctor

Amanda playing doctor with her dad as a child.

 

Why did you choose pediatrics as a specialty?
The following quote sums up why I choose pediatrics as a specialty, “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove….but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”—F. Witcraft. There is no greater joy & responsibility than to hold a newborn in your arms and to be given the opportunity to medically treat someone else’s precious child. I love being a role model and having the opportunity to inspire the next generation.

 

What’s something about you that patients might not know?
In 9th grade, I didn’t make the cheerleading squad, so I signed up for karate. Six years, and countless bruises later, I received my 1stDegree Black Belt.