About Me

I was born in New York and grew up in a northern suburb of New York City. My parents wanted a slower-paced lifestyle, so they moved the family to Colorado when I was 15, back in 1990. We moved to Estes Park and opened a steak house that is still there to this day. Medicine always surrounded me growing up, as my mother was a nurse, and my uncle was a family physician. A career in medicine seemed natural to me. I went to Colorado State University, mainly taking pre-med coursework, finishing with a BS in biology. I then decided to get a Master's in Neurobiology while exploring my medical options. During this time, I was introduced to the physician assistant profession and felt that this path would best suit my desired lifestyle while still being able to help people through their often difficult and complex medical situations. I attended my physician assistant program here in Colorado. I got married two weeks before I graduated (to another PA) and landed my job here at Kaiser Permanente soon after graduating. I have been with Kaiser for 20 years and hope to finish my career in this department.

About my practice

Beginning my 3rd decade as a PA with Kaiser Permanente, my professional philosophy has not changed (though maybe you can say it has grown a little wiser). Practicing medicine is more than being able to order tests, interpret results, and formulate plans. It's about treating the whole patient, the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual sides, with dignity and respect that we all hope for ourselves. By doing this, we as providers can help people through the difficulties of an illness. Compassion and empathy lead to excellent patient relations and even better outcomes.

How I thrive

Though slower than when I started with Kaiser Permanente 20 years ago, I am an adventurer at heart. I enjoy mountain climbing and have been fortunate to summit Colorado's 14ers. I love exploring the desert southwest canyon country and the ruins scattered throughout. I love to travel and have been to over 40 countries, many with my wife and children. Our latest adventure was to eastern Turkey near the Iranian and Syrian borders. Honestly, the only other job I would rather have is a mountain guide, but maybe I can do that when I retire.

 

But all this is a faint image of my family, who are the foundation of how I thrive.