Amy and her husband teach at a pharmacy school in upstate New York and live with their son and daughter in a converted Dutch barn that dates to 1740. Amy's interests include cooking and ballet, a pastime she shares with her daughter. Her dream? To open an artsy bed and breakfast in the Finger Lakes, New York, or Taos, New Mexico.

What drew you to a career in pharmacy?
True story! Skincare. I was working at a local pharmacy as a clerk when I was 15 and experiencing breakouts, so while cleaning up the skincare aisle, I would read all of the ingredients on the product labels. Eventually I began working in the pharmacy department there, and I was intrigued by the chemistry of drugs and how they can both help and potentially harm people and how critical the role of the pharmacist is.

Family priority? World travel!
My husband and I think it is so important to expose our children to other cultures. We also love to eat and cook, and traveling allows us to experience eclectic dishes we may recreate and incorporate into our bed and breakfast someday!

Travel-inspired recipes
I may read something about Jamaica, then I remember my trip and next I am concocting a jerk chicken pilaf with pear ginger rum cake for dessert. My kids' palates are so refined at this point that they can very reasonably critique my dishes!

Favorite travel desitnations
Africa and Prague, Czech Republic

Most exciting trip
My husband was raised in Lusaka, Zambia, and we spent a month there. We went on safari in South Luangwa National Park, which was so secluded and wonderful. The safari lasted four hours in the morning and four hours in the evening, and we saw lions, elephants, kudu, giraffes and so much more. We are dying to take our kids back!

Beauty icons
Women who age gracefully, such as Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep.

On finding balance
I find as long as you are being a role model and spend quality time with your kids, they turn out just fine! Of course, it's also important to take care of yourself. If you're unhappy or stressed, that projects to everyone around you.

Find out more about Amy's world.

How do you stay fit?
I eat healthy 90% of the time, so I don't feel guilty about indulging when traveling. I pack my fridge at work with healthy snacks and rarely go out for lunch. I also take 5—7 ballet classes per week.

How did ballet become a common interest for you and your daughter?
I started Kiki in ballet at age 3 and was so pleased when she began to love it for all the same reasons: discipline, challenge and beauty—without any pressure from me (really!). Last year we started our first annual mother-daughter dance from the Nutcracker. We did the Spanish dance, and this year we are doing the Chinese dance. We choreograph it together and dance for our family on Christmas Eve. We have so much fun practicing and designing the costumes. I will always treasure these experiences.

Favorite book, and why?
On the Road by Jack Kerouac. This book was my early inspiration to be independent and spontaneous, which has made all the difference in my life and career.

What is the most exciting part of your job, and why?
I would have to say contributing new knowledge to the scientific community that quickly translates into helping patients.