About Me

Hello. Welcome to my Web page! My interest in medicine grew from the personal examples of my mother, a social worker, and my father who was a general surgeon.

Biography

I was born and raised in Long Beach, California and attended Stanford University, where I earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. I attended medical school in Chicago and completed my surgical residency at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. While in Minneapolis, I met and married my wife—a hospital administrator. We returned to Southern California, where I received my plastic surgery training at UCLA. After I devoted an additional year at Seattle Children’s Hospital for subspecialty training, my wife and I came to San Diego to raise a family and for me to begin my career with Kaiser Permanente.

About my practice

My plastic surgery practice focuses on several specialty areas. Much of my practice is devoted to cancer reconstruction—especially for breast, head and neck, skin, and primary soft tissue tumors. I have a special interest in pediatric plastic surgery and have been a member of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association since 1994. I’m also particularly interested in complex reconstructive problems that require coordination with surgical specialists in orthopedics, head and neck surgery, neurosurgery, and gynecology.

How I thrive

My home life with my wife and children keeps me grounded, active, and happy. My family enjoys making and listening to many different types of music at home, and attending concerts and theater around San Diego. In our home, there’s always someone playing guitar, piano, or drums, and producing original creations on a computer-assisted mixing board. My family and I also love art and frequently go to museum and gallery exhibitions. I’m a life-long athlete—always eager to recharge my batteries at every opportunity through swimming and running, often accompanied by our family dog. My family also keeps me going with their incredible vitality and humor.