Physician Spotlight - Maria Christina Ospina, MD

Maria Christina Ospina, MD, shares her background and thoughts on this issue’s theme, The Diversity of Medicine.

Q: How and when did you decide to get into medicine?

A: I was always interested in the brain and behavior and that is what lead me to medicine. Once I started medical school, I really enjoyed the patient interaction. Throughout my career I have enjoyed taking care of patients and their families and accompanying them through their journey with Parkinson’s disease.

Q: You have served as an investigator at the Parkinson Study Group, can you tell us about your experience there?

A: I encourage my patients to participate in clinical trials, as it is the only way we will get new therapies and treatments. For many years, neurology had very few treatments for chronic diseases such as migraine, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Now through the diligent work of investigators and patients who participated in clinical trials, we have life changing therapies in all three of these diseases.

Q: As a neurologist you diagnose and treat disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system. What are some advancements you see now that weren’t available when you started your career?

A: As I said above, our treatments for stroke, MS, Parkinson’s, migraine are night and day from when I started practicing 20 years ago. Patients treated early with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), calcitonin gene–related peptide receptor monoclonal antibodies (CGRPS), and the multiple new medical and surgical treatments for PD and MS can have a vastly improved quality of life.

Q: You are licensed in four states: AZ, FL, LA, and WI. Are there difficulties you face in practicing medicine outside of Arizona?

A: With the pandemic it has been easier to practice across state lines. I would hope that after the pandemic, the changes that have occurred with telemedicine will continue, as it gives patients in rural areas and underserved areas greater access to a specialist; not to mention that it is easier for patients with chronic disease and mobility issues to use telemedicine than to travel a far distance to seek medical care.

Q: Gender diversity is very important. How are women in medicine impacted when it comes to wage disparities and leadership opportunities?

A: I think the pandemic has highlighted gender disparity. Many more women have had to leave the work force to take care of kids who are no longer in school. In our practice we have accommodated our staff and allowed them to have more flexible hours as well as bring their kids to work. We have been holding a “zoom” 1st grade for several months now in the office.

Q: How should physicians recruit and retain a more diverse medical workforce?

A: Recognizing that your staff is valuable and accommodating their needs is key to retaining talent. ■

MARIA CHRISTINA OSPINA, MD

Movement Disorder Neurologist Regional Parkinson Center drospina.com