Date: Fri 08-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Jennifer-Holloway-Licht

Full Text:

Dr Holloway Joins Local Practice

(with photo)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

Jennifer Holloway knew from the time she was attending Pomperaug High School

in Southbury that she was interested in biology. She worked as a nurse's aide

in the former River Glen nursing home and thought that someday she might

become a nurse like her mother.

"My mother said that if I was really interested in medicine, I should become a

doctor -- so I did," Dr Holloway, 29, said. "It wasn't something I had

originally considered. My older brother was one of the first in our family to

even go to college."

It wasn't until she was attending Fairfield University for her undergraduate

degree that she really made up her mind.

"I was studying pre-med but I was still open-minded," she said. "I considered

chiropractic or teaching biology. But Creighton [University Medical School in

Omaha, Neb.] actively pursued me."

After graduating from medical school in 1995, and doing her internship and

residency at Penn State Hospital in Hershey, Penn., she joined the practice of

Peter D. Licht, MD, and his wife, Susan K. Licht, a certified physician

assistant, in the Newtown Professional Center at 172 Mt Pleasant Road in

Newtown last August 1. The family practice encompasses primary care, internal

medicine, and occupational medicine.

"I always knew I'd move back to this area," Dr Holloway said. "I'm a New

Englander at heart. I had done two one-month externships in this office, and

they invited me to join the practice when I finished my residency. It was

exactly what I wanted, so I didn't look anywhere else."

Dr Holloway is married to Robert Mastroianni, whose family lives in

Middlebury, and they have an eight-month-old daughter, Sarah.

"I knew him from high school but we didn't start dating until I came home on a

break from medical school," she said. "We married right after I graduated from

medical school."

When Dr Holloway began her medical training, she realized she was interested

in primary care, not in becoming a specialist.

"I'm interested in preventing disease, and I also knew I wanted to take care

of a broad range of patient illnesses -- from the common cold on up," she

said. "It's enjoyable to work here. The office staff is a lot of fun, the

Lichts are great to work with and they have a great patient population."

Dr Peter Licht is the consulting physician for many companies in Danbury

including Risdon Corp, a manufacturing company where Dr Holloway's father

works.

"We treat mostly over-use injuries involving workers in the factory," Dr

Holloway said. "I used to visit my dad at work when I was a child. Now when I

visit, I'm the doctor. Becoming a doctor was the best decision I ever made."