"Lifelong friends forged through the crucible of medical school. There is no way to go on that journey alone, and I met fantastic friends and mentors along the way."
What made you realize that you wanted to go into your chosen profession?
I can honestly say I have never been one to say, "I have always wanted to be a doctor." My mom loves to tell the story that I used to tell her I wanted to be whatever took the least amount of schooling. Little did I know that medicine would choose me. It sounds cliché, but it's true. Playing basketball growing up and while at Westminster, I thought I'd head in that direction for a career, but spending time with the team trainers and doctors piqued my interest. I began asking too many questions, following around other healthcare professionals, and landed on “doctor” in the end and couldn't be happier. It has been quite the journey, but one hundred percent worth it.
Could you share some background information such as where you grew up, if you had family members in the healthcare profession, or if you were the first in your family to attend a professional school?
I grew up all over the country – Baltimore, Indianapolis, two towns in Tennessee, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Salt Lake City – all before coming to Midwestern. No, I'm not a military kid… my dad just kept getting different jobs. Being the new kid every two or three years taught me lifelong lessons and shaped me into who I am today. I have no immediate family in any healthcare profession and never considered it myself until I was 22. But once I found it, I knew it was for me.
In what ways have you given back to Midwestern University? How have you made a difference in your community?
I opened a Direct Primary Care clinic in my town here in Colorado as a way to provide easy, affordable, direct access to my patients as their physician. It is professionally rewarding to be able to sit with patients for as long as they need, whenever they need it. I don't have to crank through a backlog of 30 patients at a time.
How has your education at Midwestern shaped your life?
The experience I had in medical school has given me the confidence that I can learn anything; all it takes is dedicated focus and time. Before medical school, I had no problem with the physical side of doing hard things but after, I know for sure that I can.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Midwestern?
The people! Lifelong friends forged through the crucible of medical school. There is no way to go on that journey alone, and I met fantastic friends and mentors along the way.
What’s keeping you busy now? Do you have any passion projects?
In addition to having three kids and starting a clinic, my wife, brother and I started a software company and built a full-service practice management platform that includes everything a primary care doc needs in one place. It has been a blast building something professionally with my wife and brother, as we are all in very different professional fields. The company was recently acquired by Hint Health to further expand their offering in the market, and I have been asked to stay on as their medical director.
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Email us at Alumni@midwestern.edu.
