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After earning a master’s in nutrition,I began my medical career ininternal medicine because I was interestedin the overall health of mypatients. But I soon discovered thatprimary-care medicine is filled withmanagement issues: filing worker’scompensation claims, medical compliance,screening protocols, and socialfactors that cannot be addressed inbrief office visits. Realizing that Iloved the science of medicine, I turnedto pathology.A pathologist is a doctor’s doctor—puzzle solving at its best. My wholeday is filled with science, looking intoa microscope and diagnosing a widerange of diseases in every organ systemof the body. Is this biopsy benign,suspicious, or malignant? Are themargins clean? Did the surgeon getthe whole mass? What kind of canceris it? How big? Is it aggressive? I needto understand what the clinician sawand what the course of treatment willbe. I enjoy the collaboration with cliniciansand other pathologists knowing Ican have a positive impact on manypatients’ lives.When I first began working as apathologist, I missed nutrition. In2000, I started a private weight-losspractice with MIT scientist JudithWurtman and became a certified professionallife coach focusing on wellnessand stress reduction, as well as ayoga instructor. One of my passions inthe field of nutrition and health—reversing and preventing weightgained as a result of antidepressants—stemmed from our weight loss-practicein which many people had put onpounds from antidepressant use. In2007, Judy and I co-authored a bookbased on Judy’s research and our clinicalexperience that offers a scientificapproach of using food’s positive effecton brain chemistry and appetite toreverse the well-documented weightgain side effect of antidepressants.While I loved helping my clients loseweight and lead more efficient,focused, and relaxed lives, I wasalways most energized by the scientificaspects of nutrition. It was time toreturn to pathology and the intellectualaspects of medicine and health.Now, I’m following my own adviceand trying to live a balanced life. Iwork three days a week as a pathologist,which gives me time to be withmy kids and continue to work innutrition and wellness. I’m active onour Serotonin Power Diet Facebookpage, and I communicate directly withreaders of our book and the media. InJuly, I served as a guest expert onWebMD.com’s “Depression Community.”It’s equally gratifying to help aperson on antidepressants who hasgained 95 pounds as it is to identify atumor and determine the best treatmentfor that patient. Both are solvingpuzzles with real life benefits based onthe chemistry and science that I havealways enjoyed.My whole day is filled with science,looking into a microscope and diagnosinga wide range of diseases in every organA L U M N I S C I E N T I S T :ELIZABETH WIELLETTE ’85In Kindergarten, Elizabeth remembers taking a magnifyingglass out to the playground at recess to look atants. Although she nearly set fire to a pile of leaves,the smoke also kindled her love for science and discovery.Following 10 years at Park, Elizabeth graduatedfrom Milton Academy and earned a BA in chemistry atSwarthmore College. At Yale University, she researchedfruit fly genes for her PhD in molecular biophysics andbiochemistry. Coming out of graduate school, Elizabethwas very interested in looking at the differentiation ofcells, particularly the combinatorial effects of molecules.Returning to Boston for postdoctoral research atMIT’s Whitehead Institute, Elizabeth made her name asa zebra fish researcher, examining molecular interactionsthat determine what happens to cells in earlybrain development. In 2005, she joined Novartis Institutesfor Biomedical Research, where she is now aresearch biologist. Elizabeth and her husband, BrianKelley, live in the South End with their 7-month-oldson, Owen, (pictured above).system of the body.Elizabe30 The Park Bulletin | Fall 2010