January 18, 2012

Dr. Gurjit Khurana Hershey is not a native Cincinnatian, but the Queen City is the place she has called home for the past 15 years. Born in India and raised in Iowa, Hershey attended Washington University in St. Louis medical school where she met her husband. The outstanding Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, a place where you can turn ideas into realities, is what brought Dr. Hershey and her family here in 1997, and they have happily remained ever since.

iSPYCINCY spoke with Dr. Hershey to learn, among other things, about her professional aspirations, what advice she gives her three boys, and, if she had her pick, which fictional medical team she would join.

iSPY: Who do you count as your greatest inspiration in life, and in particular, what inspired you to become a doctor?

Dr. Hershey: Through example, my parents taught me the joys of hard work and life’s simplest pleasures. Their love of their work was obvious. I wanted a career that I would enjoy doing everyday. The things I have always enjoyed most are talking to people and hearing their stories, science and math. Medicine was a natural career choice for me. Although it took a lot of hard work and many years to achieve, I can honestly say that I love what I do and it almost never feels like work.

iSPY: You are involved in the Division of Asthma Research, what does a typical day entail?

Dr. Hershey: There is no typical day and that is what I love about my job. It is a mixture of many diverse activities. For example, on a given day, I may meet with my staff and colleagues to discuss research, write grants, treat patients in the clinic, teach medical students, give a seminar, and/or meet with community leaders.

Buffie Rixey and Charlotte McBrayer with Dr. Hershey

iSPY: The Kindervelt Accelerate the Cure to Kick Asthma event is coming up at the end of the month (January 28), can you please speak to how events such as those benefit the work you do and what else people can do to get involved?

Dr. Hershey: Patients come from all corners of the world to seek out the best care at CCHMC, which was just ranked among the top three children’s hospitals in the U.S., including in the care of lunge diseases like asthma. This is made possible by the tireless efforts of people like you who want to make a difference. Everyday in the U.S. 30,000 people have an asthma attack. That is 30,000 too many. We are committed to improving asthma care and are grateful for your partnership. I encourage people to get involved by sharing their stories, volunteering their time and/or donating whatever they can.

Dr. Weiguo Chen, Ickey Woods, Chandra Woods, Dr. Gurjit Khurana Hershey, Buffie Rixie, Melinda Butsch Kovacic, Vicky Gomez, Sara Stigler and Cindy Chappell

iSPY: Greatest, and/or favorite piece of literature you have ready and why?

Dr. Hershey: The Interpreter of Maladies. It is a collection of beautifully written short stories about Indian immigrants and their struggles to adjust and find their paths in life. Many of the stories deal with emotions and life situations, which, although they happen to be experienced by Indians and Asian Americans here, are truly universal.

iSPY: James Bond or Jack Bauer?

Dr. Hershey: Jack Bauer

iSPY: Skittles or M&M’s?

Dr. Hershey: M&M’s

iSPY: If you could play a doctor on a fictional TV show, what is the first show that comes to mind?

Dr. Hershey: ER, if I could meet George Clooney. Otherwise, House because his job is to figure out difficult or puzzling cases; that would be interesting and fun.

iSPY: All things Cincinnati… favorite restaurant, place to enjoy the outdoors, and Cincy event

Dr. Hershey: Via Vite, Cincinnati Parks, and Theatre — Playhouse in the Park or the Aronoff

iSPY: What is top on your bucket list both personally and professionally?

Dr. Hershey: Personally, visit New Zealand; professionally, find a treatment for asthma.

iSPY: What is your biggest pet peeve?

Dr. Hershey: People without passion.

iSPY: Motto to live by?

Dr. Hershey: My motto is coulda, woulda, shoulda equals nada. I say this to my kids all the time.

*iSPYCINCY would like to thank Dr. Hershey for her time and tireless efforts in the fight to cure asthma. For those interested in helping the cause please consider attending Kindervelt’s Accelerate the Cure to Kick Asthma on Saturday, January 28 at the Porsche of the Village. Click HERE to view the invitation and the generous list of sponsors.

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