MEET THE EXPERTS The Family Doctor

Here's what a primary care physician wants you to know about staying healthy at every age.

- GINA WAY

I always wanted to be a doctor. One of my first favorite toys as a child was the Fisher-Price doctor set with the stethoscope and the thermometer,” says Tochi Iroku-Malize, M.D., a board-certified family physician. Her father was a surgeon and her mother a nurse practitioner, so medicine is practically in her DNA.

“Now I take care of patients of all ages, from newborns to seniors, and I’m trained to diagnose, treat, and manage a vast spectrum of health conditions including mental health-related issues, reproductive health, and geriatric care,” says Dr. Iroku-Malize. “I make it a point to learn a family’s dynamics, medical histories, and genetic predispositions, which gives me a more holistic viewpoint.” Here, her must-knows for good health.

Is there a big difference between an internist and a family medicine practitioner?