I attended college at BYU.  I enjoyed math and science.  My major was applied physics.  I enjoyed rooting for the various sports teams.  While there, I worked in a nuclear physics lab leading the team on our particle accelerator.  I also tried my hand as a secretary in the local Neurosurgery clinic.  I was much better at the particle accelerator.  I did stick with my plan to enter the medical field because a career as a physicist would lack the human interaction I hoped for.

I went on to attend medical school at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine.  Before looking apply to medical school I had not heard of Osteopathic Medicine.  There were only slight differences I could find between an MD and a DO (Medical Doctor and Doctor of Osteopathy).  DO schools sacrificed courses on genetics and instead had courses on holistic aspects of medicine including "Osteopathic Manipulation" which is similar to chiropractic techniques.  This seemed like a reasonable approach and has hopefully had some benefit on my training.  Overall the medical license and residency training for DOs and MDs is the same.

​

I completed Residency in the Henry Ford Health system in Detroit Michigan.  The main hospital I trained in was St Joseph's (renamed Henry Ford Macomb Hospital - Clinton Township).  This hospital was located in the suburbs of Detroit.  Contrary to the inner city's well earned reputation, the Detroit suburbs are a wonderful and safe place to live.  I chose the field of Internal Medicine because of its completeness.  Training includes in depth rotations with all organ system specialists.  It covers enough in-depth information to qualify for fellowships in most of the specialty fields.  

​

During residency, I chose to go on to become a hospitalist.  I enjoy this field because of the quality patient interactions, the intellectually challenging nature of complicated diseases, and the ability to watch people succeed in healing.  I get to interact with the patients and focus on their treatment during their hospital stay.  I get to know them a little better each day. I am able to care for complicated hospitalized patients on a daily basis.  Hospitalized patients usually have 2-3 chronic problems that complicate the short-term disease they are trying to overcome.  I feel blessed to work with a care team of nurses, specialists, and other hospital staff to help each patient get through their disease.  I accept that not everyone can or wants to be kept alive, but I do my best to give each patient the highest quality of care possible in their situation.