About Me

I grew up in Boise, Idaho, which is kind of a mini-Denver. I went to Yale for college, where I studied anthropology and organismal biology. I spent most of my time on stage with my improvisation comedy group, The Viola Question, and on the fencing strip with the varsity fencing team. After my undergraduate education I returned to Boise where I had an eight-year career with the YMCA, rising from a “front desk guy” and personal trainer to branch manager over that time. I found that managing was not as enjoyable as working directly with people to improve their health and fitness. I eventually left the YMCA to pursue a career in medicine. My wife and son are the best part of my life! Family is very important to me and I can frequently be found visiting my parents in Boise.

About my practice

I really enjoy helping people better understand their health. I’ve been a teacher for a long time, sometimes formally but often informally. I have the ability to take a lot of medical facts and distill them into functional, comprehensible information that people can use. I don’t like to tell patients what they “have” to do; I prefer to help people understand their particular problems and risks, and understand how medical science can help them. I believe in screening, which is testing people to prevent illness and disease (mammograms, colonoscopies, bone density, etc.).

How I thrive

I thrive by spending time with my family and with physical activity, but I have a wide range of recreational interests. Over the years, I have found relaxation and “recharge-ability” through fencing, mountain bike riding, poker, reading (mysteries, fantasy, and graphic novels are my favorites), video games, guitar, singing, hiking, camping, skiing and traveling. Since having a child, I also enjoy zoos, museums, beaches, aquariums, playgrounds, swimming pools and the backyard. Finally, I have played ultimate Frisbee competitively at a variety of levels for more than 20 years now. In 2013, I played at the national over-40 championship tournament, finishing ninth with my team from the Big Sky region – Idaho, Montana, Utah and western Canada – and I play in several of the leagues here in Denver.