Dear Doctor: Elise Brett
The technology-driven endocrinologist on the diversity in her field, running her own private practice and healthy eating
Dr. Elise Brett’s journey into medicine began as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, where she found herself fascinated by biochemistry — and started to realize that science could lead to a career helping others. Today, she runs her own endocrinology practice on the Upper East Side, where she spends her days treating a diverse group of patients and issues that really push to her to dig deep. Learn more about how this endocrinologist has been a leader in integrating technology into her practice, about her excitement for what’s to come in her field, and what she does to relax in between trips from the hospital to her practice.
“After my college graduation and again during my fellowship, I worked in labs doing research here in New York. I enjoyed it very much, but it was not something I could have made a career of. I love working as a doctor in private practice because through that, I can directly help solve the problems of patients I see.“
The Diversity within Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a thinking person’s field. Everything I do is distinct; thyroid disease is different from diabetes, which is different for osteoporosis, which is different from pituitary. There’s a wide variety in the patients I see — young people, old people, men, and women. I also do a range of procedures — thyroid ultrasounds and biopsies — and I get to work with insulin pumps and with patients on chronic weight management. All of these things really allow me to help a lot of people.
From the Hospital to Private Practice
I met my former business partner when I was a fellow — he was an attending at Mount Sinai while I was there. He was one of the people who trained me, and he asked me to join his practice after I finished my fellowship. I was in practice with him for 18 years. About a year ago, we split up. He went back to working at the hospital, and I decided to stay in private practice. Now, I’m running the business myself — working on everything solo.
It’s so different being completely on my own, but it’s good. I really like it.
Right now, I have a wonderful staff, and I appreciate how demanding their jobs are. I like that I can decide when I want to see patients, and whether or not I want to stay late and fit in an extra patient who needs to be seen urgently. I am most proud of my wide referral network, and the connections that I have made with other physicians throughout the city — and even nationally — who trust me to care for their patients. I try to always give each physician a personal follow up in writing or by phone when a referral is made.
I start my day in the hospital seeing patients and doing consults. Sometimes, I have teaching rounds in the morning with the endocrinology fellows. After seeing all my patients at the hospital, I go back to my office for a full day at the practice. When I’m finished for the day, I stay late finishing up paperwork and calling my patients to discuss their results. Some nights, I even go back to the hospital in the evening to continue to follow up there.
I’m also a certified nutrition support clinician, so in the hospital besides doing endocrinology consults, I do consults for nutrition support for parenteral and enteral nutrition for patients who can’t eat normally.This adds another dimension to my practice; it keeps me active in the hospital, and has been a part of my work since I was a fellow.
On Technology
We were one of the first private practices to adopt an Electronic Health Record (EHR). We’ve been on it for at least 14 years. It helps me be efficient and organized, and it gives me the ability to document everything I need to as quickly as possible. I also think e-prescribing is much safer for patients. In emergencies, being able to prescribe from my iPhone is very helpful.
Diabetes technology is really exciting. There are so many great developments, like the continuous glucose monitors for both Type 1 and 2 diabetes. Also, insulin pump therapies, the hybrid closed loop pump, and eventually the artificial pancreas. It’s all coming really fast, and can change people’s lives. The other thing that has been really exciting for me, since I do a lot of thyroid biopsies, is all the advancement in molecular markers for thyroid cytology for diagnosis of thyroid cancers. There are now molecular tests that can help us decide whether or not a patient needs thyroid surgery — everything is so rapidly developing!
Weight Management
The most rewarding part of my job is helping my patients feel better. Specifically, I like helping people lose weight because it is so frustrating for patients, and a lot of people aren’t aware that there are medications out there that can help. Weight management is something that is becoming a bigger and bigger part of my practice, since obesity is now recognized as a disease and we are treating it as one. There are now five FDA approved medications that are safe and effective for use in chronic weight management.
I love that I get to help my patients choose the best medication for them, and to help them lose weight in a safe manner.
Healthy Eating in New York City
It’s easy to stay healthy in New York City — we have so many great food and exercise options. For fresh and non-processed food, we have the best of everything — from the high-end meals to inexpensive, quick ones. I also love to cook at home. It’s possible to find any high quality ingredient I need — meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. We also have the ability to walk everywhere, which is great exercise. The only problem is that it is such a high-stress environment. Most people are always on the go. You have to find the time to relax and not be working all the time.
Lightning Round
I do what I love because…I can make a difference in people’s lives.
I’m inspired by…my patients.
Phrase that I live by…“Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
A day off in the summer in the city…I’d go to a museum — the MOMA.
Favorites
Exercise: Playing tennis in Central Park.
Relax ritual: A manicure and pedicure with my 15 year-old daughter. I have different favorite spots to go near the hospital, home, and the office. My free time is so limited that I pop in wherever I am when I can grab a free hour.
Healthy food spots: Candle Cafe, Sweetgreen, and any type of sushi. For cooking at home: Agata and Valentina or Citarella.
You can learn more about Dr. Elise Brett here!
Know a great female doctor in NYC? We’d love to meet her, introduce us here!
