Brie Ann Muller, MD

Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics, Rush Medical College
Role: Clinician
Joined Rush in July 2015

Bio

I began my medical career at Rush as a medical student in 2005. I went on to complete my pediatric residency at Advocate Children’s Hospital and then returned to Rush for a fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology. My focus is on pediatric and fetal echocardiography.

What inspired you to get into your field?

I have always enjoyed the pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system, and I wanted to have continuity of care with my patients for many years, which I am able to do as a specialist in Pediatric Cardiology. I truly enjoy developing relationships with patients and their families and seeing them grow up.

What excited you about your work at Rush?

I have had the opportunity to expand our outreach clinics, which has been a great learning experience. I currently go to four different outreach sites, and we are hoping to add more over the next year. These outreach sites are really appreciated by our patients who live far away and have difficulty making the commute to downtown Chicago.

What is your opinion of mentoring and sponsorship? Please comment about your experiences.

Having a mentor whom you respect and trust can really make a difference when you are a junior faculty member who is just starting out at a new institution. It can be overwhelming when you are faced with the many decisions regarding patient care, research, leadership, education and citizenship.

Do you have tips or advice you would recommend for someone looking to enter your field of work?

The field of Pediatric Cardiology can be very rewarding, but it requires a lot of dedication and constant learning. It was helpful for me to rotate at a hospital with a fellowship to see what my life would be like as a fellow. As a student and resident, I had the opportunity to observe cardiologists at different institutions, which helped me see the variety of work that can be done as a Pediatric Cardiologist. Also, as a woman, it was important for me to start a family throughout all of these experiences. This  wasn’t easy by any means, but it is very possible.

What are your hobbies? How do you like to spend your free time?

I spend my free time with my husband and two children. My children are four months and three years old, so we spend a lot of time at the park.