Tampa Republic

• Dr. Mariah Pate, a native Floridian, is excited to be practicing in her home state.

• She graduated in the top five of her class at the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University.

• Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers is located on 54th Avenue North in St. Petersburg.

Dr. Mariah Pate, a provider at Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, knew she wanted to be a doctor ever since she was a child but didn’t purse that path until a couple of years after obtaining her undergraduate degree.

“I felt called to do it, and it's such a rewarding profession,” Pate told Tampa Republic. “Of course, caring for people -- caring for patients -- is my No. 1. It's incredible to be able to have that impact on people's lives. Another thing is, it’s intellectually stimulating. I love the day-to-day interaction with people and the challenges.”

Pate graduated magna cum laude from the University of Florida in Gainesville before attending Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, where she graduated in the top five of her class. Her internship and residency were both in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. She was chief resident and the recipient of the research award.

“I love otolaryngology,” Pate said. “I knew I wanted to be a surgeon when I was in med school. That was the first thing I decided. But once I learned about ENT, I realized it was definitely my passion. It's such an incredible field.”

Pate was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. She is certified with the American Board of Otolaryngology and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy and the Women in Otolaryngology Section/AAO-HNS.

Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, located at 2805 54th Ave North, Suite 300, in St. Petersburg, offers a variety of treatments for people suffering from sinus and allergy problems.