I was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas. I am a graduate of the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas School of Medicine. I was an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Corps for nine years, during which I completed my first residency, in general surgery, at Tripler Army Medical Center. After leaving the Army, I completed a second residency, in thoracic surgery, at the University of Oklahoma.
I met my wife, Julie, while completing my residency in general surgery in Hawaii. Julie is originally from Whittemore, Iowa. We find it amusing that a boy from Kansas and a girl from Iowa had to go all the way to Hawaii to meet. Julie was working as a traveling nurse when we met. After marriage, we continued to enjoy traveling, and have lived in Hawaii, Georgia, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Colorado before moving to Iowa in 2004. Julie and I have three sons, each of whom was born in a different state, Cole (Georgia), Jake (Oklahoma), and Caleb (Indiana).
I am the owner of the Iowa City Thoracic and Vascular surgery clinic. Julie works with me as my office manager. My primary hospital is Mercy Medical Center in Iowa City, but I also have privileges at St. Luke’s Medical Center and Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, and Allen Hospital in Waterloo.