Even though my father was a General Practitioner growing up, I didn't really think I was going to be a doctor. I was a baseball player in high school and college and thought I'd play professionally. During undergraduate studies, the Dean of Pre-Med met with me and encouraged me to take the pre-med courses. I agreed to do that but still thought that I wasn't going to be a doctor. I learned a lot about myself at this time, however - especially my aptitude for the sciences. I was not only good at it, but I enjoyed it too.

I entered medical school thinking I'd be either a cardiologist or pediatrician. I was lucky enough to work under two very well-respected orthopedic surgeons during my rotations. Dr. Clyde Nash was one of them and he made great strides in treating scoliosis in pediatrics. Dr. Peter Scoles was another doctor on staff and I saw him take on very challenging cases. I admired how these two men were personal in and out of the operating room; they were down to earth, solid men. They inspired me to be a good doctor and solidified my decision to go into orthopedics.

I like what I do because I can change the course of someone's life. My patients appreciate the time I spend with them to get to know them as people and to really understand the problem. I maintain close follow- up with all of my patients and am committed to the best patient care possible.