Raised in a small town in Pennsylvania, Dr. Carrie Houssock says she didn’t grow up on a dirt road, but knew a lot of people who did. Nobody in her family was a doctor and she didn’t even know any doctors, but from the time she was 8 years old she knew what she wanted to do.
Nearing the end of her first residency in general surgery, she interviewed for the residency program at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was one of two women out of the 50 candidates to interview, and was then one of two chosen for the program.
During residency she met Dr. James Vogel, who became a mentor then a colleague, and when he retired in 2020 she decided to take over the practice. Today, JEV Plastic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics is a destination for aesthetic surgery and hair restoration not just in Baltimore but the DMV and beyond.
With her recovery nurse Alina (the “Disney Princess”) as co-host, you’ll find out in this introduction to both Dr. Houssock and the Perfectly Imperfect podcast who Carrie Houssock is, why she loves medicine, and why she just loves Baltimore so dang much.
About Perfectly Imperfect
Hosted by Baltimore plastic surgeon Carrie A. Houssock and her all-female team of moms, Perfectly Imperfect is the authentically human podcast navigating the realities of aesthetic medicine for moms who live and work in the DMV.
Got a question for us? Leave us a voicemail at theperfectlyimperfectpodcast.com
JEV Plastic Surgery is located just off of I-795 in Owings Mills, Maryland at 4 Park Center Ct, Suite #100.
To learn more about JEV Plastic Surgery, go to https://www.jevplasticsurgery.com/
Follow Dr. Houssock on Instagram
Follow the JEV Plastic Surgery team on Instagram
Perfectly Imperfect is a production of The Axis
Transcript
Dr. Houssock (00:10):
So this is Dr. Carrie Houssock. I’m the owner of JEV Plastic Surgery.
Alina (00:15):
This is Alina Parker. I’m one of the nurses that works here. So Dr. Houssock, what is the A for?
Dr. Houssock (00:23):
In my name?
Alina (00:24):
In your name. Yes. Yes.
Dr. Houssock (00:26):
It’s for Ann. It is my middle name. It’s also my confirmation name, which is really root of my parents. So if you’re Catholic, you’ll understand. If you’re not, you won’t. But it’s my mother’s name. So I was born Carrie Ann Houssock, but then when I went to confirmation, you’re supposed to get a confirmation name and my parents didn’t give me a second name. So if you are a typical Catholic, you’d be Carrie Ann something, but instead I am Carrie Ann Ann Houssock. I don’t think I’ve ever told anybody that.
Alina (01:01):
That’s great. Now we know.
Dr. Houssock (01:03):
Yeah.
Alina (01:03):
All right. So you grew up in a small town. Where was that?
Dr. Houssock (01:07):
It was in Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania, not related to Sweet Valley High. Again, if you know you know, and it’s in Northeastern part of the state of Pennsylvania, about 35 minutes from any big cities. So really rural, didn’t grow up on a dirt road, but knew a lot of people who did.
Alina (01:24):
How big was your graduating class?
Dr. Houssock (01:28):
My graduating class had 150 people in it. The whole school was definitely less than a thousand. It was probably like 600 of us.
Alina (01:37):
What did you like about it?
Dr. Houssock (01:40):
I didn’t know anything different, so it felt wonderful to me. It was a small community where everybody knew everybody else. Literally your neighbor would be the plumber. My dad was the police officer. My mom worked at the grocery store, so everybody knew everybody, which at the time felt very intimate. Probably looking back, it just felt very close knit, like everybody was family. You couldn’t get with anything, like everybody would know, which could have been bad, but I was a pretty good kid. The downside to it though, and I don’t know if this was going to be your next question, was that everything was far away. You couldn’t go anywhere without getting in a car. So the whole concept of walking somewhere was impossible.
Alina (02:21):
When did you know wanted to become a doctor?
Dr. Houssock (02:26):
So it’s interesting because it’s an exact moment. So when I was eight.
Alina (02:29):
Eight. Wow.
Dr. Houssock (02:30):
When I was eight, yeah. I remember distinctly this moment, we had taken my grandmother to the doctor and we were sitting in, my mom had a station wagon and my dad was an EMT in addition to being a police officer. Cuz there’s not a lot of local healthcare in emergencies. So my dad had a lot of certifications so he could take care of people in the town, and we had a first aid kit in the station wagon. And we were waiting for my grandmother to go to her doctor’s appointment. And my brother and I are sitting in the back in the trunk part of the station wagon and we’re just playing around and the first aid kit is sitting there. And so I tore open the first aid kit and it had everything in it. I’ll never forget, my dad had it perfectly organized, and I started kind of dressing my brother with bandages, ace wraps and band-aids. And I literally remember that moment being like, I think I want to be a doctor. This is cool. And I didn’t have any doctors in the family. Just that little experience from my dad having a little bit of a certification. And so ever since then, and I would say I was about eight, I knew I wanted to be a doctor.
Alina (03:37):
That’s amazing. And what was medical school for you?
Dr. Houssock (03:41):
It was like when you look back, you’re supposed to say it was painful, but in the moment I loved it. I learned so much. Medical school was basically 12 hours of studying a day. It would be about four to eight hours of a lecture and then in another four to eight hours of studying after. And I was very regimented, so I didn’t mind that schedule. I would always go to class, then go work out, and then spend the night studying. I think because I really loved medicine, it didn’t feel painful, but looking back, it was really hard and it was really grueling, but I never look back at it and think like, God, I would never want to do this again. Quite frankly, I’ve said multiple times since I’ve graduated residency that I wish I could go back now knowing the knowledge I do now and kind of retake those classes, cuz I think they would just be that much more amazing because I would actually understand more of it.
Alina (04:40):
So then how did you end up in the DMV?
Dr. Houssock (04:44):
So I was in medical school in Philadelphia, and then I did my general surgery residency also in Philadelphia. And while I was in my general surgery residency, about two years in, I did a rotation in plastic surgery and just fell in love with it. And so I did a research here at Penn during my residency in plastic surgery and then the dreaded, but I guess amazing Match happened. And when you match in residency, you get to rank the places that you would love to be going to, and you have had to have had an interview there. And I was lucky enough to get an interview at Hopkins, and I remember this moment too. It was literally yesterday. I remember coming for my interview at Hopkins and driving underneath, if you know Hopkins, they had this bridge and it says Johns Hopkins Hospital. I remember driving under it and being just in awe of the campus, never thinking in a million years I would get that residency.
Dr. Houssock (05:43):
And there were 50 of us interviewing for two spots, and out of those 50, there were two women. So it was 48 men, two females, and we were all in this big huge auditorium and they make it so dramatic. And the chairman at the time said, I want you to all look around because two of you will be here. And no kidding you, I was so far out thinking that it would be me that I was just like, wow, I wonder who it’ll be, huh. Never thinking in a million years it was me. And then Match Day comes and Match Day is fascinating. You’ve ranked where you want to be, you have no idea who’s going to pick you. And it’s 9:00 AM on the dot an email comes through across the nation and you have to open that email and it tells you where you’re going and it’s contracted.
Dr. Houssock (06:30):
You don’t get a choice, you’re going. And it was nine o’clock and there was no email. And I’m like, what? What’s going on? 9:01, 9:02, where’s the email? No matter what, they’re supposed to get an email. Finally it comes three. It was like 9:03. And those three minutes were probably the longest three minutes of my whole entire life. And that was it. And then I opened it and it was Johns Hopkins Hospital. So I ended up in residency here and a few years in, got to know Dr. Vogel and then joined his practice. And the rest is history.
Alina (07:07):
So why did you keep the name JEV? Those are Dr. Vogel’s initials, correct?
Dr. Houssock (07:11):
Yes. So he originally had the practice name as his name. It was James E Vogel, MDPA. That was the name of the practice. And a lot of people ask, why didn’t you change it? And I say, I did. I changed it to JEV Plastic Surgery. It isn’t his name anymore. It is the initials. But ultimately, I believe that in 32 years of practice, he left a legacy. And when I decided to buy his practice and take on that legacy, I thought it would be a shame to lose that legacy completely.
Alina (07:46):
Do you remember meeting Dr. Vogel for the first time?
Dr. Houssock (07:49):
I do. Yeah. So I was in residency and Dr. Vogel used to do these aesthetic meeting dinners for us. He would invite the upper classes to have this fancy dinner at the Maryland Club down at Maryland Club or the Center Club? Center Club downtown, and he would do these meetings and we would have a topic and the residents would do some kind of presentation for him about cases, and he would give opinions and whatnot. And so I met Dr. Vogel as part of my residency. And when I interviewed for the job, I actually didn’t know it was him at first. So he had placed a job posting on the ASPS website, and all it said was Baltimore surgeon looking for partner. And I had no idea who it was. So I had applied to the job without even knowing it, and then found out later that it was him.
Alina (08:42):
And how long did you two work together?
Dr. Houssock (08:45):
So since 2016 I would say. And then he retired at the very beginning of 2021. So we knew each other for about five years before I officially took over the reins.
Alina (08:59):
So after he retired in 2020, what was it like taking over the reins during covid?
Dr. Houssock (09:06):
Yeah, talk about timing. <laugh>
Alina (09:07):
Right? Right?
Dr. Houssock (09:07):
So it took us about a year for us to figure out exactly how that transition was going to happen. It’s the worst side of owning your own practice and being in private practice is the business side because we don’t learn that in medical school. So it took us a while for us to come to an agreement. And when we did, the agreement was for him to spend a year plus however long he wanted really contractually, but he was going to spend that time as an employee. So in 2020, January, 2020, we switched. I purchased the practice and Dr. Vogel became an employee of the practice. And as we all know, three months later we had to close for Covid, and obviously there couldn’t have been a worse time. I had just bought the practice. I was just learning how to be a business owner. I was terrified. I had a lot of loans for that business. And lo and behold, we made it and we made it and actually just skyrocketed afterwards. So it all worked out fine, but in the moment I said to myself, if I could get through a pandemic having just bought this practice, we’re going to be just fine. And we have been.
Alina (10:18):
What do you like about Baltimore?
Dr. Houssock (10:21):
What I love about Baltimore is it’s kind of still a small city in big shoe. What do I mean by that? There’s a lot here. There’s so much diversity here, but it’s not so overwhelming that you can’t really become a part of it. I think it’s a small world here too. A lot of us who live here would say that everybody knows everybody, even though it’s nowhere near the small town I came from, I do still feel like there is a small town feel to it. I also just love that it has that variety. I feel like if you want to, you can go to an amazing show. You can go down to DC if you want to. That being said, we’re out in the county, so you have farmlands out here and it’s quieter. And really it started to feel like home pretty quickly. Alina, what got you interested in becoming a part of an aesthetic practice?
Alina (11:14):
The reason I joined an aesthetic practice I would say is because I just really love that one-on-one interaction with the patients that I get. I feel like we get to know the patients from the beginning of their journey towards their recovery and when I see them, when they come back for their follow-ups. So we build a little relationship there. And so I really love that.
Dr. Houssock (11:37):
Yeah, we definitely do. They become part of our family for sure. You do a few things here at the practice. One of them of course is that you’re our recovery nurse. What do you think it is about you that sets you apart, that makes you so good at it? Because you are, you’re very good at it.
Alina (11:51):
Thank you. It’s so funny. Nobody remembers me. I’m always like, oh. So when they come back for the follow-up appointment, I’m like, I’m Alina, I was your recovery nurse. And everyone looks at me like, who are you? But I really enjoy it. I make safety my priority with every patient, and I know they’re very vulnerable at that moment, and I really just try to make them comfortable and safe, and I love that they wake up to me, they wake up to my face.
Dr. Houssock (12:23):
They do. They really do. And it’s funny because I tell you guys this every time that a patient says this, but when I call every patient at night after surgery and nine times out of 10, the first thing they say before I can even ask how they’re doing is how wonderful the staff was today. They’ll say, listen, I just have to let you know your staff is wonderful. And they just always remember that, and I’ve said this before, and this is really the truth. They may not remember your face, but they do remember how you make them feel. They really do. And that is so valuable because the last thing they remember before they get into the car and they go home is that feeling. And again, we talk about vulnerability, pain that they might be having at that point. They’re coming out of anesthesia and their thought is how great they were feeling in that moment. And every one of us has a very important job, but I think that job that you have and the fact that you make them feel that way is one of the most important jobs that we have.
Alina (13:32):
And I love hearing that. I love hearing when the patients come home that they had a really nice experience with us.
Dr. Houssock (13:36):
Yeah, they remember so, I mean, and it’s just comes natural to you, which I think is so great. I think it’s part of your motherly love that you have. You’re just a very loving person and I think it just comes through and they can pick up on that.
Alina (13:52):
What do you do outside the office?
Dr. Houssock (13:55):
I spend most of my time chasing my almost 2-year-old before him. I really, really enjoyed fitness and my husband and I spent a lot of time doing that. Now I would say that has taken kind of a minimal role and I get my workout in as much as I can on a daily basis, but most of our time is spent focused on our little buddy and giving him that time. Since we both work, both professionals, he is in daycare when we are not with him. And so when I’m not here, I’m with him. Alina, what do you do on your free time?
Alina (14:29):
Why I knew you were going to ask me. Okay. So let’s see. What do I do in my free time? Let’s see. I have two little kids. I also have a little farm, so I have chickens, goats, a bunny, dogs, cats, still working on a cow. But yes, when I go home, I have a whole farm. I have to tend to and take care of I and do this in the morning and evenings. Yeah.
Dr. Houssock (14:55):
What do you think that that has done as far as bringing that into your life? You didn’t always have that. What do you think that does for the kids and for you and what does it add to the family having that responsibility?
Alina (15:06):
It’s amazing. So I feel like it just makes you appreciate the little simple things in life. The kids learn little responsibility while helping me with some of the chores. You get to spend time outside way more.
Dr. Houssock (15:20):
Yeah, even like life, I remember when you had lost the chickens or you had lost one of the goats at one point and your young ones had to learn almost pretty quickly what it’s like and why. And so it’s almost like life lessons you can get from that.
Alina (15:34):
Yeah. It’s definitely a life lesson. We did have some great losses and they had to learn through that, and we talked about things that opened up different conversations during that time too.
Dr. Houssock (15:43):
Yeah, it’s amazing. Just another side of you that have that loving kind of nature.
Alina (15:50):
So why are you doing this podcast?
Dr. Houssock (15:52):
You’re always trying to figure out a way to speak to your patients in a way that they get to really know you. And we do social media a lot. You and I do it a lot, and we are pretty honest on there, and we don’t sugarcoat a whole lot. And we also are pretty organic, I would say, meaning that whenever we post, it’s coming from the heart and it’s not pre-planned and fake. And so we do, I think a good job with that on Instagram, but I think this is just another opportunity for patients to meet all of us, and I think that’s really means something when it comes to you specifically. There is no one that is more vulnerable than a patient after surgery, and you are there with them in their most vulnerable state, and how great is it? They get to know you and they almost feel like they already know you really well before they have to get to that point. I think that that’s great, and if we could do that with every one of us, how great will that be, just for the patient’s perspective.
Alina (16:57):
Why is the podcast titled Perfectly Imperfect?
Dr. Houssock (17:01):
I think there’s this misperception that plastic surgery is kind of the antithesis of self-love, and I really, really want patients and even families of patients or just anybody who’s thinking about something in plastic surgery to know that it’s not that at all. It’s just a way of us being able to be part of a journey where you can feel comfortable in your own skin. We’re not trying to make you perfect. There’s no such thing. I can’t make anyone perfect. And so we named it Perfectly Imperfect to say that we are just trying to be a part of your journey, and we want you to know what that journey really looks like and that your perception shouldn’t be that you’re going to come out of this having zero flaws. Flaws are beautiful, and our job as your, I guess your portion of this journey where you’ve decided to do something for yourself should just be looked at as a way to just fine tune those things that make you perfectly imperfect.
Alina (18:06):
What do you want the audience to take away from the podcast?
Dr. Houssock (18:11):
It goes back to those couple of things. I want them to really get to know us as a practice, and I want them to, along the way, get some very real and organic education and be able to make choices for themselves that are well thought out.
Alina (18:27):
Where can we find this podcast?
Dr. Houssock (18:30):
You’re going to be able to find this wherever you can find your favorite podcast currently, YouTube, Spotify, Apple. There’s also going to be a link to it on our website. We will be posting clips and whatnot on our social media, so it’s going to be hard not to find. Perfectly Imperfect is the authentically human podcast navigating the realities of aesthetic medicine. JEV Plastic Surgery is located in Owings Mills, Maryland. To learn more about us, go to JEVplasticsurgery.com or follow us on Instagram @drcarehoussock, or just look in the show notes for links. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it and subscribe to Perfectly Imperfect on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’d like to listen to podcasts.