Special Interests
Personal Interests
My interest in medicine started after a very young age when a family member passed away. It seemed like such a mysterious event, but it fueled my curiosity to understand the body to prevent this from happening again. I remember feeling very vulnerable.
My parents were amazing role models and encouraged us to read and explore. My mother wrote the ‘Bob Book’ series that were used in many of the local classrooms. Our neighbor Dr. Henry Garrison, a cardiologist, was also a very influential friend and medical role model growing up in our Portland neighborhood. My strong desire to feel safe fired my passion for learning about the body. My feeling at the time was that if I understood the body’s mechanisms, it would increase my chance of staying healthy and prevent falling victim to illnesses.
My continued fascination with the body paved the way to medical school in Germany and a very different way of life. The complexity of Physiology was like a riddle and the more complex the riddle; the more my interest was piqued. For that reason, I was drawn to the physiology of Internal Medicine and the cardiovascular system to make these two areas my focus.
My Advice: Live like a cave man in April.
Many adult patients deal with chronic diseases. Many of these diseases can be prevented if simple guidelines for a healthy lifestyle are followed.• Live on a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat.
• Exercise and adopt healthy food choices.
• Keep your imagination and learning alive to maintain a healthy approach to life.
By following these simple guidelines, you will be doing yourself a favor and helping to prevent diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and dementia.
Several factors contribute to this epidemic of a very unhealthy society. Many patients are addicted to an overload of carbohydrates and high fructose (sugar), are sitting for longer periods, and moving less than our ancestors moved. It is no surprise that chronic illness has become one of our biggest health problems with this combination of factors.
I introduce many of my patients to “The Blood Sugar Solution,” by Dr. Mark Hyman as a comprehensive guide to follow for eating healthy foods. In his book, he discusses the reasons that he finds so many people are living with gluten sensitivity and an overall unhealthy diet and offers possible solutions.
I deeply care about my patients and like teaching ways to participate in their healthcare solutions. I prescribe doing a fun activity every day, encourage an outdoor activity like walking once a day, and suggest eliminating or drinking only moderate amounts of alcohol.
When I am not at the clinic seeing my patients, I am igniting the curiosity in children through subjects that intrigue them. Watching their enthusiasm inflames my own curiosity. I enjoy volunteering at Catlin Gable School because it gives me a sense of satisfaction. When time permits, I can be found reading the latest book or out and about enjoying time with my wife and boys. One of my favorite past times is biking so watch for me on my daily commute to work!
Remember to keep moving, eat healthy and do something fun!
Golf, banjo, three sons.
