Dr. Are chose to work at OSF HealthCare because she wanted to be part of a collaborative team that is dedicated to the care and well-being of the patients and families in the community. She has lived in central Illinois for several years and enjoys being a part of the vibrant Bloomington-Normal area.

She chose a career in medicine because she loves taking care of children and being able to make an impact on their health during their most critical time in life. She says, “healthy children grow to become healthy adults.”

Dr. Are followed a family path into health care, as her mother is also a doctor, and it was a clear path for her as she completed her education. She enjoys interacting with people and the continuous learning that health care brings.

Dr. Are lived in many places during her childhood, from the Midwest to the East coast to the South. Moving often while younger gave her an appreciation for diversity of all kinds. She is married and enjoys traveling with her husband, as well as cooking, reading and spending time in the water swimming or at the lake. She is also looking forward to volunteering in the community.