Allison Lai, MD

Before becoming a physician, I participated in a service program in which I tutored, mentored, and substitute-taught middle schoolers. This experience helped me discover a passion for working with children and partnering with families. In hindsight, it makes sense that I found my calling in pediatrics.

Pediatric hospital medicine specifically allows me to employ clinical reasoning for the diagnosis and management of patients over the course of their hospitalization and care for a wide array of conditions. I am able to unite my interests in clinical care and research with my commitment to health equity, immigrant health, and global health.

During medical school, I completed my master of public health at Harvard University to better serve my future patients through research and gain an enhanced appreciation for the social determinants of health, in particular working alongside pediatricians in Liberia to study their patient population. I continued my studies of health equity during residency at University of California, San Francisco, then during my fellowship at Northwestern University, such as implementing a national survey to assess the practice landscape for breastfeeding with HIV.

At NYU Langone, I aim to pursue research on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and how it can improve care both domestically and internationally. I am also working on global health programming and education. I hope to spend my career empowering communities and families to care for children, especially those in greatest need.