Next up in our Meet the Team series is MJ, Dr. Somogyi’s primary assistant and point person for his reconstructive practice. Read on to learn more!
Hi, MJ! What made you decide to join the team at FORM Face + Body?
I’ve always been drawn to the medical field and helping people. Our team is such a close knit group. We laugh and help each other, and it doesn’t feel like work when you’re at the office. Once I met Dr. Somogyi and the team, I knew that it was exactly where I wanted to be. Dr. Somogyi and Dr. Jalil are very passionate about patient care and it’s an incredibly fun team to work with.
Can you tell us more about your professional background?
When I was in college, I worked as an assistant to a chiropractor. Upon completion of my MOA diploma at Seneca College, I started working with an ophthalmologist in Markham. I was able to utilize my knowledge and organizational skills in a busy office. I spent five years coordinating surgeries and keeping a hectic schedule organized. My experience was wonderful, but I knew ultimately I wanted to be in the Plastic Surgery industry.
What’s it like to work closely with Dr. Somogyi?
Honestly, it’s busy and a bit like a Jenga game – or Tetris, both analogies are appropriate. He’s everywhere all the time! I know his schedule better than he does, but somehow he manages to give his all in everything he does. His passion is unlike anything I have ever seen. I am still not convinced that he doesn’t have a clone – coordinating between his clinics and surgeries at North York, Women’s College, Wynford, and Centric Don Mills Surgical Centre is an organized chaos, but he manages everything with ease.
What are your best tips for staying organized?
Post-It notes! No but seriously – I have been blessed with a bit of OCD which certainly helps with a busy office. We also have an amazing EMR (Electronic Medical Record) system which allows me to keep track of everything. Prioritizing level of urgency is important as things change sometimes hour to hour.
What is one challenge you face in your role?
Top challenge is when we run out of Kicking Horse coffee and we need to wait for our next Amazon order!
A very close second would be that from time to time there are patients who require surgery within a very short timeframe; these surgeries often require an additional surgeon and assistants. Coordinating the operating time and collaborating all the appropriate people can be a bit of a struggle, but North York has a phenomenal team and we always manage to pull together for the patient. It can just be a bit stressful for everyone involved but ultimately patient care is number one.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I hate cheese!
Do you have any favourite treatments or skincare products?
I absolutely love my photo facials with the Venus Versa. I’ve always struggled with sun spots on my face and these treatments keep my skin looking and feeling fresh. My daily skincare regimen includes the SkinBetter Daily Enzyme Cleanser, SkinBetter Even Tone Correcting Serum, and my absolute favourite product is the SkinBetter Trio Moisture Treatment to protect and nourish my skin.
What’s the last New Year’s resolution you kept?
I don’t actually make New Year’s resolutions; I do my best to maintain a healthy lifestyle year-round and challenge myself to be the best version of myself. January 1st is just another day and I feel like putting a start date on making a change in your life just puts too much pressure on the goal. It’s like starting a diet… on a Monday.
