Kulkarni, Monica, Shah, MD

I knew from an early age that I wanted to become a doctor. I grew up in a rural town in Maryland and, as a high school student with an interest in medicine, I used to shadow rural family medicine doctors on their rounds and thought their work looked incredibly rewarding. \n As a life-long athlete (I was a runner in high school and played rugby in college), I have a strong personal interest in sports and physical activity. I wanted to be able to treat athletes of all skill levels in my daily practice, so I pursued a sports medicine fellowship and worked in Division I sports for nine years prior to relocating to North Carolina in 2019. \n My goal is always to provide the best possible care through active listening and understanding each patient's individual challenges and goals. Education and shared decision-making are crucial elements of my patient-centered approach. I strive to help patients - and communities - achieve an active and healthy lifestyle. \n I "practice what I preach" and enjoy walking, running and strength training. I also enjoy spending time with my husband, son and dog. We love going to the beach and have recently started taking family trips to national parks, which we plan to make an annual tradition.