Why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare:

Medicine has allowed me to combine my interests in science with my strong desire to help others. Medicine is constantly changing and requires one to always to be learning. Being a physician is a humbling responsibility that I strive to live up to daily, but through the relationships this fosters, I am rewarded daily.

What I want my patients to know about me:

I was raised with a strong sense of purpose and carry that through in all that I do. Whether that is how I relate to my family, my religion, or my country, I have strong feelings. As a physician, I feel that my responsibility is to the needs and feelings of my patients, and it is through understanding where my patients are coming from that I can best provide for them. I hope I will never be accused of imposing myself on them since, in fact, some of my most eye-opening moments have been given to me through my patients' experiences.

What I do when I'm not seeing patients:

My escape from stress is running. Nothing takes the sting out of a bad day like a long run. My wife and I have a small farm, and, with our three kids out of the house, this is a full time job. Working in the garden, I am the sower, and my wife the harvester. As long as the peaches are okay, my wife is happy! I have a woodworking shop and love to make things-from a kitchen table to a whimsical marble roll. I am involved in the lay leadership of my church and value both the work and sense of peace it provides. A good weekend is a trip anywhere chasing down our three twenty-something kids!