My initial exposure to medicine was the result of my dad being a family doctor in a small Minnesota town. Entering college, I pursued being a doctor or wildlife manager and medicine won out. While in medical school, my technical skills directed me to a surgical specialty. I worked with an orthopedic surgeon who drove my choice of specialty. I came to Phoenix for my residency with the intent of returning to Minnesota to practice medicine, but met my future wife while I was here. She did clinical research at St Joseph's Hospital as a nurse and later completed law school prior to our marriage. We stayed in Phoenix and raised our 5 children.

I think that orthopedic injuries affect people's lives more than many other medical problems. I like addressing these problems and am fascinated by patient's life stories and how they relate to their orthopedic problems. I embrace the challenges of being an orthopedic surgeon and the responsibility it brings. My philosophy can be summarized as "Loyalty above all except for Honor." My loyalty as physician is to my patients and family.