Hetty Carraway , MD , MBA ( left ), with her family at Coral Cove Beach in Jupiter , Florida .

What was your first job ? My first job was working in a mom-and-pop donut shop , along with my older sister . She and I are Irish twins , so we often took on new things together . I learned to swim a year earlier than I should have for the same reason .

The customers we dealt with were almost always friendly and made the job fun . They were delighted when we learned their regular orders and had them ready in the blink of an eye . Those were long days , though . We ’ d get to the donut shop at 5 a . m ., stay until all the donuts were sold , clean up the greasy trays and counters , then go to basketball practice for 4 hours . Still , I loved working with my sister

– and we managed to convince our friends from the basketball team to work with us at the shop , so there were always ongoing shenanigans and camaraderie . At the end of the day , we smelled like grease , coffee , and cigarettes , but the work was gratifying . And who isn ’ t happy when you have constant access to donuts ?

What did you want to be when you grew up ? As a freshman at Wachusett High School , my biology class went on a trip to Acadia National Park in Maine , where we spent a week camping , hiking , and learning about the environment . I remember

spending hours searching the tide pools of the Atlantic Ocean , finding anemones , sea urchins , starfish , and the like . After that , I got excited about marine biology . At that time , I was also an avid swimmer , lifeguard , and swim instructor . So , naturally , I decided that the best job ever would be to work at SeaWorld . It combined everything I loved at the time : marine science , swimming , learning about and training animals , and performing . When I left for college , my family encouraged me to pursue a degree in marine science .

Was anyone in your family in medicine or science ? Both of my parents are basic

scientists : My dad , Robert Carraway , PhD , is a biochemist and my mom , Margaretha Carraway , PhD , is a molecular biologist . Having two scientists in the house certainly influenced my education . Many of our dinnertime conversations were about their lab-based work , problem-solving , and biology .

Growing up in a family that shared my excitement about science was fulfilling , and it also taught me the importance of persistence . My family has affected me in so many ways , and continues to encourage and support me . My sister , Dorothea Wang , MBA , is a mechanical engineer and her enthusiasm about her work inspired me to pursue an MBA . Though we have many differences , she has been a constant pillar of strength for me . I ’ m fortunate to have a sister as my best friend .

My mother started working as a lab technician at age 20 , after she emigrated from Holland to the United States . Her original plan was to stay for 1 year , but that changed when she married my dad and had children . We grew up knowing that she had given up her homeland to raise my sister and me in the United States . We could speak Dutch and were lucky enough to spend summers in Holland whenever possible . She went back to school to finish her college degree ( my sister and I remember waiting for her in empty classrooms while she attended a lecture in the next room ), and eventually earned her PhD the same year I graduated from medical school . She taught me to stay true to my dreams . It was not an easy road for her , but she kept at it .

What compelled you to switch from biology to medicine ? I clearly remember the turning point . I was at an appointment with my primary care doctor ,