About Me

Welcome to my Web page. I'm happy to have this opportunity to introduce myself. An effective partnership should develop out of a sense of trust and mutual respect, and hopefully this page can help in starting to develop that relationship.

Biography

I was born in Biloxi, Mississippi but moved shortly thereafter we moved many times due to my father's career. Growing up, we lived in California, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Florida, and Puerto Rico. We did finally lay down roots in Phoenix, Arizona, where I completed high school. I did my undergraduate work at Occidental College in the Pasadena area, where I also played baseball. After graduating, I found a unique opportunity and left for Japan, where I taught English for three years. Upon return to the United States, I entered and completed medical school in Arizona, followed by residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) through UC Irvine. I joined Kaiser Permanente right out of residency training in 2005, and feel fortunate to have found a wonderful community here in the North County.

About my practice

Growing up an athlete, I was naturally drawn to exercise, the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems, and of course, to injury and how we recover. For me, physical medicine and rehabilitation encompasses this and much more. It is truly a patient-centered field with an emphasis on maximizing quality of life through a combination of exercise, healthy lifestyle, and medical management when indicated. PM&R epitomizes a "team sport" as we work hand-in-hand with physical, occupational, and speech therapy to tailor rehabilitation and treatment programs. The emphasis is on team unity and continuity, with everybody working together to maximize a member's functional abilities. In many cases, the disease process cannot be altered. In every case, the functional limitations resulting from a disease process can be improved. I think this sets PM&R apart from other disciplines.

How I thrive

One of my favorite quotes is Dan Millman's "There are no ordinary moments." I try to enjoy the journey and get the most out of each day, realizing that happiness is more of a choice. With that said, I like anything outdoors, anything you can play (or watch) with a ball, anything that gets your heart rate going, and anything that involves my kids. Yes, the trunk of my car looks like the inside of a sports store! Finally, it's said the closest relationship we have with our environment is the food we put in our mouths everyday. My wife and I have taken a special interest in nutrition, in an effort to model physical and environmental health.