Margarita R. Ochoa-Maya, MD, CDE, CCD

Dr. Margarita Ochoa-Maya, a native of Medellin, Colombia, graduated from the Institute of Health Sciences with her Doctor of Medicine degree in May of 1994. Her exceptional scholastic record earned her a foreign exchange scholarship in her final year of medical school, enabling her attendance at Boston University and Harvard University Affiliated Hospitals. Dr. Ochoa-Maya completed her internship and residency at Boston Medical Center in 1997. She then continued her education and training with a Clinical Fellowship in Endocrinology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and followed that with a Research Fellowship at the Harvard School of Medicine.

In July 1999, Dr. Ochoa-Maya started with a multispecialty practice in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology and then in October of 2001, Dr. Ochoa-Maya started her own successful private practice in Westford, MA, where she developed a broad and loyal patient base. She was later recruited by the Pritikin Longevity Center near Miami, Florida, where she served as Chief of Endocrinology and Deputy Medical Director from 2003 to 2005.

Within the broad area of internal medicine, preventive medicine, women’s health, adolescent health, and endocrinology, Dr. Ochoa-Maya has developed extensive interest in the hormonal mechanisms of organ injury associated with the pathophysiology of hormones, obesity, hypertension and diabetes. Dr. Ochoa-Maya concentrates her research in the interrelationships between the environment, a healthy diet, routine exercise, and illness, including physical, psychological, and emotional health.

Dr. Ochoa-Maya demonstrates her ongoing commitment to patient education by leading open discussions focusing on her areas of expertise within endocrinology, and hopes to expand this commitment by actively entering the lecture circuit. She continues her dedication to medicine as the Medical Director for the Diabetes Education And Resource (DEAR) Program at Elliot Hospital and by consulting for various pharmaceutical and medical device companies in an effort to in fluence how one’s hormones have a direct impact on total health, happiness and physical appearance.

Dr. Ochoa-Maya presently resides in Bedford, NH, with her two children. In addition to fluency in English and Spanish, she is conversational in both German and French. Outside of medicine and motherhood, Dr. Ochoa-Maya enjoys reading and physical exercise, and recently she has become an enthusiastic and avid skier.

What is your current specialty?
I am a physician. I trained in Internal Medicine and further specialized in Endocrinology. I also am a certified diabetes educator concentrated in women's health, weight loss and diabetes. I am most interested in preventing diabetes, particularly in our Latino community because Latinos are at very high risk of obesity and diabetes. With respect to Latinas, we are at very high risk of hormonal problems that can predispose us to metabolic disorders and that includes a condition called Polycystic ovarian syndrome. This is a condition where women have difficulty losing weight, they gain it mostly in the waist, have extra hair where we don’t want it and lose it where we want it. It is also associated with acne and infertility. With a weight loss plan, exercise and some laboratory tests that predict this condition, medicine often helps many of my patients succeed at fighting this syndrome.

What do you enjoy most about your field of study?
I enjoy being a doctor because I have the ability to interact with people and take care of them. I love being able to help women improve their self esteem, understand that there is definitely hope for them and that being healthy does pay off.

Can you share some of your interests with respect to the latest findings in your current field of study?
I enjoy endocrinology because it is a challenge, and not a lot of people are able to see the small things and the big things and have a perspective and put it all together. There are some hidden answers to many things, especially with respect to weight problems. It feels good to be able to tell someone that their thyroid is the key indicator of their weight gain and once we fix it weight loss is not so difficult. The same goes for metabolism issues.

What advice do you have for anyone interested in higher education?
As a woman, being able to pursue your dreams is a privilege. If someone is interested in higher education, they should shoot for the stars, the moon and the sun! If you get a star... that is not bad at all!

Who has been the greatest influence in supporting you in your career growth?
My greatest influence in my career growth has been my father, and my husband. Without the support of my family and my loved ones, I don’t think I could have made it!

What is your current view of the job market in your field?
The job market in the medical field is always changing, but in endocrinology, with obesity and diabetes an epidemic, the opportunities are endless. The opportunities increase if you are a Latina and happen to be bilingual.

What best practices can you share about your field of study?
I love to work with pregnant women. I did a study that evaluated the treatment of thyroid disease in pregnancy. I really feel like I made a difference.

What is your favorite book, novel or publication?
I love to read, and I love the work of Paolo Coelho. I am also in the process of writing a book for women with reference to hormones.

What would you like LATINAStyle subscribers to know about you?
I would like Latina Style subscribers to know that I am still a woman and I have challenges every day, and despite my accolades I struggle for balance between being a mother, a daughter, a wife and a friend along with the demanding responsibilities of being a doctor.