Top Physicians Under 40

Pittsburgh Magazine 40 under 40 Dr. Mallory Ciukszato & Dr. Natalie Gentile

Dr. Mallory Ciuksza

What inspired you to choose medicine for your career path?

My experience with medicine in my early life was very personal. My mother was a hospice nurse, and when I was 9 years old, my 2-year-old sister was diagnosed with a glioblastoma. She went through surgery, chemo, and radiation and subsequently developed leukemia. I had the opportunity to be her bone marrow donor prior to her death a few weeks before I started college, which was a defining experience in my life. Anyone who has experienced the dayto-day trauma of having and loved one with cancer understands how much you want to help and how helpless you often feel. Being my sister’s bone marrow donor was a real, tangible thing I could do, and after experiencing that kind of meaning and purpose, I wanted to spend my life helping.

What project/program/passion most excites you currently in you work?

As all of us in medicine know that the social determinants of health matter more than our care much of the time. With the help of a dedicated committee, I run the Food Assistance Match program through the Bellevue Farmers Market. Our program addresses local food insecurity by matching SNAP, WIC, and other food assistance dollars to help our neighbors afford fresh, locally grown foods and support our farmers. I help fundraise to make sure that if marketgoers bring food assistance dollars to our market, $1 spends like $3. Last year, we secured a community development block grant for $37,000. This year, we are actively seeking fundraising not only for our market but hopefully to expand our program in the upcoming years.

What area of medicine do you hope to dive deeper into as your career moves forward?

St. Clair is expanding education opportunities and I am hoping to take on more teaching in the new few years.

What would be one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

I love to cook and host friends and family for dinner parties in my home regularly.

Is there any advice for the next generation of physicians rising?

Medicine is a big space and there are many ways you can serve and be useful. Figure out what you care about and make time for it.

Congratulations!

From

Dr Natalie Gentile

What inspired you to choose medicine for your career path?

I always knew I would become a physician. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to practice medicine and focus on wellness and mental health for my patients. What I didn’t realize is that I would also find a passion for being an entrepreneur. Being able to practice medicine in my own space in the way that serves my patients best has been an incredible gift.

What project/program/passion most excites you currently in your work?

My newest business, Rebel Wellness, gets me up every morning. This endeavor is innovative and exciting. We are building a space where the community can learn the tenets of lifestyle medicine through a teaching kitchen, group fitness space, yoga/mindfulness work and group workshops.

What area of medicine do you hope to dive deeper into as your career moves forward?

A weight neutral, health at every size approach to care. As a lifestyle medicine trained physician, I have the privilege to work with patients at all stages, ages, and sizes, and aim to help them feel safe with me and heard.

What would be one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

I have no business training! I learned how to start and grow businesses on my own, with the help of many mentors and encouraging family members along the way.

Is there any advice for the next generation of physicians rising?

Yes! Don’t settle for anything less than what fuels your inner fire. You put in so much time, passion, money, and emotional stress to become a physician. So the job you choose after all of that training should ideally fuel your inner fire. If the job itself can’t do that, then make sure to prioritize your interests and self-care outside of work so you never lose sight of “you”.