Photography by Kathy Tran.

WHEN TIFFANY MOON was six years old, she took a solo flight from Beijing, China, to reunite in the United States with her parents, who had immigrated three years earlier. Moon graduated from Cornell at 19, then graduated with her medical degree from UT Southwestern in 2008, completing her residency in anesthesiology at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. Now a board-certified anesthesiologist and professor at UT Southwestern, the 36-year-old Moon has been published in more than two dozen medical publications. Moon meet husband Daniel Moon, of the Sam Moon Group, in 2008. Married for eight years, their family includes two seventeen-year-old twins from Daniel’s first marriage, Nathan and Nicole, and six-year-old twins Chloe and Maddie. Moon also serves on the board of The Family Place. She recently launched a product line of masks, scrub caps, “Aromasthesia” candles and jewelry. A portion of proceeds benefit the Family Place. Oh, and she’s the newest cast member of the Real Housewives of Dallas.

How was your 2020? Was there a lesson you learned this past year?

I can’t say it was a great year, but I did learn a lot. The upheaval really helped me see what was important to me, who my real friends are, and what I need to focus on going forward.

How has this past year been like on the frontline of coronavirus?

It’s been very tough. Doctors and other first responders have been through so much this past year. In all the years I’ve practiced medicine, this one has by far been the hardest because of the devastation and emotional toll coronavirus has caused us.

What was it like graduating college and medical school so young?

I don’t have anything else to compare it to and it was a very natural progression for me. I never felt “younger” than my peers or that I couldn’t do the work. I don’t think a lot of my peers realized that I was younger than them until it was time to go to a bar and then I was like, “Ummm, guys — I can’t get in.”

Photography by Kathy Tran.

What made you decide to go into medicine?

I wanted a career where I could make an impact in people’s lives and be proud of what I do each day. It’s extremely rewarding to be able to help others through their most difficult times.

Why anesthesiology?

Anesthesiology combines the perfect daily physiology and pharmacology experiment because every patient is different. They have different diseases and different ways their body reacts to medications, so it always keeps me on my toes. I love the fast pace of the operating room and working with different surgical subspecialties and people each day.

What is the research project you are most proud of?

The “Airway Study” is a prospective clinical trial of over 3,000 patients that I am writing up right now. We are trying to ascertain what makes some people more difficult to intubate than others. It took almost five years to complete and involved about 20 other people, so it was a big collaboration and I’m really looking forward to getting it published.

Why did you select your research focuses?

My research focuses came about naturally because I take care of a lot of really sick patients including lung cancer patients, trauma patients and obese patients.

“I think the greatest thing we can do is to teach and inspire our next generation.”

What’s next in terms of your medical research?

I have an ongoing randomized, double-blind trial looking at two different medications that are used to reverse neuromuscular blockade in patients with end- stage kidney disease. This is the first study of its kind in the United States, so I’m really excited about it.

Why did you decide to go into teaching?

I think the greatest thing we can do is to teach and inspire our next generation. I love teaching, guiding and empowering my medical students and residents.

What’s it like teaching where you got your medical degree?

I love UT Southwestern, having graduated from here over a decade ago, so it really was like “coming home” for me when I finished residency in California. I came back to the same department that inspired me to go into anesthesiology, so that hopefully I can inspire others to pursue this wonderful field of medicine. Sometimes I’ll see old surgeons that were attendings back when I was a medical student and they’ll say, “Oh, you can call me John,” and of course I’m like, “Yes, Dr. Smith.”

When did your love of fashion develop?

I’ve always had a love for fashion. Even when I was young, I would beg my mother to let me pick out my own clothes (usually from Goodwill) and I would look through the fashion magazines at the checkout stand while she shopped for groceries. I believe that fashion is a form of self-expression and creativity and that it should be fun.

Why did you start doing your Instagram series Woman Crush Wednesday?

My friends would occasionally text me pictures of celebrities in dresses and say, “Hey don’t you have this dress?” So, one day it occurred to me that it

would be fun to showcase my fashion and also my love and admiration for the women that I feature on “Woman Crush Wednesday.”

Who’s your style icon?

Victoria Beckham.

Favorite pair of shoes? Pair of shoes you’ve had the longest? Favorite place to shop in Dallas? Favorite wine?

My favorite pair of shoes are the Swarovski Louboutins that I got married in. The longest I’ve owned a pair of shoes? Probably my Ugg house sandals I’ve had for 10 years and refuse to throw away. My favorite place to shop in Dallas is Avara, a cute little house on Lovers Lane that features super chic pieces at affordable prices. My favorite wine is definitely Three Moons Wine, a private label Napa Valley cabernet that my husband and I blend each year.

Photography by Kathy Tran.

How did you end up on TikTok?

By accident! During quarantine my 16-year-old daughter was on TikTok and I decided to give it a try and well… now almost 300K followers later, I’m still not sure what just happened. It’s something fun that my entire family can do together – like performing the latest dance video – and a fun way for me to interact with my followers. I love making other people laugh, so if I can do that, I’ll keep going!

What’s your favorite thing about the platform?

Mostly that it makes me laugh and gives me the opportunity to make others laugh. I truly believe laughter is the best medicine.

Why did you decide to join the Real Housewives cast? It was an opportunity to push myself to do something completely out of my comfort zone. I mean, waaaay outside!

What are you most excited about in this season of Real Housewives of Dallas?

Seeing our friendships blossom and each of the women go through their personal journeys and change in different ways.

What can viewers expect?

Lots of laughs (hopefully), a few tears, some disagreements, and some real moments of joy and growth.