About Me

I was born in West Virginia but raised primarily in a small town on the Eastern border of Ohio called Bloomingdale. During my third year of medical school at Howard University in Washington D.C., I took a vacation to Hawaii and immediately fell in love with the surroundings. As soon as I deboarded the plane, I knew I needed to make Hawaii my home. I transferred to John A. Burns School of Medicine at University of Hawaii the following year and have not looked back since. My loving wife provides me with constant support and companionship. We have a wonderful young son who never ceases to amaze us with all of his youthful activities and endeavors!

About my practice

Before entering medical school I served for four years as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy. I was responsible for evaluating and triaging sailors in sick call and I became impassioned to learn more about medicine. During my medical training I completed a three year public health service in Michigan, providing care for many local auto workers. This experience piqued an interest for me in work-related injury and chemical exposures. I decided to do a two-year fellowship in hyperbaric medicine at the University of Hawaii. Both experiences helped me to decide to specialize in occupational medicine. The Hawaii Permanente Medical Group’s respectful, supportive environment is very encouraging to me. I love the camaraderie between my colleagues and feel that they have truly become my professional family. In addition to my work in the clinic, I am currently part of the physician leadership team for our electronic medical records. I believe in treating patients like family. Compassion, humility, and professional expertise help me to build a connection with my patients, which I reinforce with good eye contact and listening skills. I enjoy interacting with all of my patients and invariably develop a bond with those that have a strong desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

How I thrive

To keep myself healthy, I try to eat well and exercise four or five times a week. I also make it a point to take vacations or time off to allow me to decompress from any accumulated work or stress. One of my favorite ways to relax is to watch college football. My wife and I like to play tennis together whenever we can and we enjoy teaching Sunday school for the youth group at our church. I get great joy watching my son in his gymnastic competitions and when I am able to, I like curling up with a good book!