You're on TikTok as @dr_ear_wax. What made you start your account? I downloaded TikTok during the first COVID quarantine...and one day I came across an audiology-related profile that was dabbling in earwax content. I already had the passion for cleaning ears, so I bought some basic filming equipment and posted my first video in October of 2021. I use my platform to educate the public on the importance of hearing health and preventing noise-induced hearing loss, while also grossing them out with the earwax content.

You have more than one million followers now. How do you balance online fame with being a doctor? Having a strong team allows me time to run my practice, work on content creation, and be the mom I always hoped to be, while also still making some time for my own hobbies.

What's your favorite part of the job? We believe anyone who walks through our door who wants to improve their hearing should have the ability to do so regardless of their financial situation, so we started a hearing aid donation program for those who cannot afford hearing aids. Surprising patients with donated hearing aids is the best feeling ever. —Molly Szymanski

What inspired you to go into the field of pediatrics? I always loved kids. Even as a child myself, I had a propensity for caring for other kids. I had some health issues that made me particularly sensitive to the needs of others. I thought I was going to go into obstetrics and gynecology, but realized very early on that my primary interest was with the babies.

What made you choose to work with newborns? I loved the mathematics associated with ICU work. The NICU [neonatal ICU] was more appealing to me than the PICU [pediatric ICU], because I enjoyed being a part of the beginning of a life. The NICU further drew me in as I worked with families during some of the most difficult and some of the most rewarding days of their lives. Working in the NICU and with NICU families became my ministry.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Hands down, the most rewarding part of my job is the relationship forged with the families and watching the story unfold. —Molly Szymanski

Why did you specifically choose to pursue maternal and fetal medicine? My last clinical rotation was obstetrics and gynecology, and I delivered a baby on that rotation. I thought it was the most marvelous, wonderful, amazing thing and such a privilege to be able to usher in a life. And I was so amazed by that, that I decided to change all my plans at the last minute.

What inspired you to open your yoga studio, Replenish Yoga and Meditation? It was a combination of knowing the health benefits of yoga and wanting to give communities that didn’t necessarily have access or knowledge of yoga a space to come and practice authentically.

How do you balance work life, mom life, and business owner life? I think they all work together and in a symbiotic kind of way. It’s my desire to heal and help that comes together in medicine and yoga, and I also cultivate wellness in my family with motherhood and in my marriage. I just think it all works together. One feeds the other.—Sasha Allen

What drew you to psychiatry? From a young age, I found myself drawn to the sciences, specifically biology. I chose psychiatry specifically because I felt like it gave me the opportunity to connect with individuals as people rather than just “patients.”

If you weren't a psychiatrist, what would you be? I would have pursued my passion for cricket as a professional player. I’m a big cricket fan and follow it religiously, but I also enjoyed playing it in my youth. It’s such an exciting and dynamic sport where anything can happen.

Why Baltimore? As my children were growing up, my wife and I wanted to be surrounded by an environment full of diversity and creativity.

What advice do you have for future generations who may be interested in psychiatry? Psychiatry is a field that may appear challenging, since people struggling with their mental health are sometimes not able to make the best decisions for themselves and may not be as engaged in their own treatment. However, when you are able to successfully administer treatment and grant individuals resources, being able to see the alleviation and the increased quality of life as a result is extremely rewarding. —James Consoli

Why did you get into the field of medicine? I have always been interested in biology and physiology, trying to understand how the body works. And with my Nigerian background, there is an expectation of excellence, so it’s either you are a doctor, lawyer, or engineer.

What made you choose pain management? What better way to make a difference than to alleviate pain from people’s lives?

What do you bring to the field of pain management that is unique? I believe the level of empathy I bring to my patients is my superpower. Because chronic pain changes your reality, it affects your emotions, your personal relationships with your family and friends, your work, sleep, etc. It literally makes you feel your life has come to a stop, like you are no longer living. Patients really appreciate a doctor who can empathize with this. This helps them and makes them aware they are not alone in this battle against chronic pain. —Sasha Allen

How did you get into sports medicine? I’ve always enjoyed sports and competition. Building a connection with an athlete and then watching that athlete return over the next months stronger, healthier, and pain-free is extremely rewarding.

Why focus on the shoulder and elbow specifically? Whether it’s a 16-year-old with a dislocating shoulder, a 56-year-old with a humerus fracture, or a 70-year-old with arthritis, the breadth of shoulder and elbow surgery is what keeps me engaged. Each day is different and it challenges me to continue to fine-tune and improve.

What injury-prevention advice do you give athletes? Rather than repeating the same exercises or one sport year-round, the body was designed to adapt to many activities. I recommend adhering to a varied program, with seasonal modifications for weight-training, cardio, and core-strengthening. That plus always giving 15 minutes for warm-ups are the keys to staying injury-free. —Joseph Martinak

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What advice would you give an aspiring doctor? Treat your patients like you would want your loved ones to be treated.

What frustrates you about working in health care? The hurdles to providing patient care due to bureaucracy.

How has cancer treatment evolved over the course of your career? Cancer treatment is now seen as a team effort, with better communication and coordination between various specialists. That team also now includes dietitians, physical therapists, genetic counselors, mid-level providers, and administrators. Everyone can help make a person’s journey better and more successful.

What is the number one piece of health advice you would give? Make sleeping a priority. In our current busy lifestyles, we often forget to do that.

Why did you choose your specific area of practice? I realized how important it is to sleep well for good health and quality of life. I enjoy helping people reach this realization.

What frustrates you about working in health care? Dealing with health insurance companies. Sometimes, we have to work too hard to justify a needed test or treatment for our patients.

Describe a moment that made you remember why you chose this profession. When a patient said, “I have never slept or felt this well. Thank you for changing my life.” Very rewarding!

What is the most recent thing you learned while on the job? If you are patient, compassionate, and always do your best, you will succeed.

Why did you choose your specific area of practice? I love having the opportunity to build relationships with my patients, provide care for the whole family throughout their entire lives, and help people find ways to live longer, healthier lives by preventing and managing chronic disease. This is what family medicine is all about.

Describe a moment that made you remember why you chose this profession. My “aha” moment is every time a patient of mine brings their spouse, child, or parent in as a new patient and grants me the opportunity to make a difference in their health.

What is the number one piece of health advice you would give? No matter how busy you are, take time for your health daily. Take the stairs, add an extra vegetable to your meal, or give yourself two minutes to practice gratitude in your car before leaving work. You deserve it.

What frustrates you about working in health care? The cost of care. I wish all Americans had access to free health care.

What advice would you give an aspiring doctor? If you focus on the number of years of education and training needed, you may not embark on this journey. Medicine is a very rewarding and diverse field that can suit many personalities. There really is something for everyone. Regardless, prepare to work hard and be a lifelong learner.

Describe your ideal day on the job. At the end of a busy day, it is always nice to know that, in a relatively short amount of time, we can greatly impact a patient’s health and improve their quality of life.

What do you find most fascinating about the human heart? How long it actually lasts. When you think of mechanical devices, whether it be a car engine or mechanical pump, nothing can last 80 to 90 years or even longer. However, the heart, which is made of tissue, does. That I find remarkable.

What is your favorite way to decompress? I actually enjoy mowing my lawn. This always surprises my patients and colleagues. It is a form of meditation. Also, when I am done, I can look at the lawn and feel a sense of accomplishment for my hours of mowing.

What is the most recent thing you learned while on the job? Consider feedback from patients and supervisors to be a gift. Be receptive to change and ready to learn new things.

Describe a moment that made you remember why you chose this profession. A dying patient made me a bracelet with a crucifix. I have a different faith but wear this bracelet every day since it reminds me why I went into medicine in the first place.

Describe your ideal day on the job. Working in a climate of positivity and collaboration creates an ideal day for me. Physicians are healers, and there is nothing more gratifying than to see a smile on my patient’s face.

What is your favorite way to decompress? Doing something outside of work that involves my home and my family. Any type of yardwork, really, I find fun and worthwhile. Being at home with my wife and daughter and hearing about their days is always fun.

What is the number one piece of health advice you would give? Pain is an important way your body is communicating with you. It can actually help you by forcing you to rest, change your habits, and improve your health.

Since you work with them and on them, do you take extra care of your hands? I try never to take the complexity of natural hand motion for granted. Along with the movement of our wrists and fingers, which we do without thinking, the sensation in our fingertips is how we stay in contact with our world.

View our full list of Top Doctors, here.