Medical School: A. T. Still University - School of Osteopathic Medicine - Arizona
Undergraduate School: Gonzaga University
Two of my least favorite questions to answer are, “Where are you from?” and “Do you know where babies come from?” My family is originally from the great state of Montana, but I was born in Utah, and I grew up in Seattle as a kid, then spent my teenage years and beyond in Spokane. However, then I lived in Idaho, then moved back to Spokane, then lived in Arizona, then moved back to Seattle, then back to Arizona and now I live in Texas. Perhaps my real claim to fame though is the large amount of children that I have. Soon to be 6 kids under the age of 9, so let’s just get them out of the way…Yes, I know how babies are made. Yes, they are all mine. Yes, I only have one wife. No, there are no twins. Yes, I do know that I have enough kids to form my own sports team and rock band. Speaking of rock bands, in my spare time, I am a guitarist and am currently in a sweet band with some fellow residents.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest (go Hawks!) and completing my undergraduate degree at Gonzaga University (go Zags!), I have always wanted to stay close to water and nature. However, after living in the warmth of the Arizona desert for medical school, I knew I wasn’t ready to return to those long cold winters. Of course, the weather alone was not all that led me to choose Corpus Christi to complete my residency training. As a senior medical student, I spent a month rotating in the ED with the amazing people at Texas A&M-Christus Spohn and had a truly unparalleled experience. From the tight-knit family feel of the program to the virtually unopposed training opportunities, I made many friends and had multiple opportunities to do some cool procedures as a student.
As a husband and father, I often get a lot of questions about family life during residency. I can honestly say that I could not have chosen a better program for work-life balance. There a great mix of people and personalities, and there is a very active and supportive group of spouses and significant others that have made transition much easier for my wife and kids as well. Not to mention that Corpus Christi as a community has far more to offer young families than any of the other places that we have lived in. There are numerous great attractions, including the warm water of the Gulf Coast that are all easily accessible within 15-20 minutes.
Finally, the experiences that are available to the residents in our program are truly unique. As a young physician, I am amazed at the amount of autonomy afforded to us even at the intern level. Residents truly run the department, including all traumas, and our program has a growing reputation for producing superior ED physicians in the areas of trauma and critical care as a result. Also, South Texas has a wonderful and very grateful patient population, but unfortunately, many of them have very advanced pathology owing to lack of access and regular follow-up. This allows for young physicians to not only learn how to manage these complex medical issues, but also to navigate a complex system in a responsible manner.
I have no doubt that we will be very well prepared to meet the healthcare challenges of the coming generations as graduates of the Texas A&M-Christus Spohn EM Residency and hope you will consider joining us!