What are your career goals?
To provide high-quality primary care to my patients in whichever setting I choose to practice in. I hope to use my platform as a family physician to serve as an advocate for those under my care in the clinic but also in the community in order to improve health care in the community as a whole. I strive to make sure that I am not only working collaboratively with patients in treating their ailments, but that I am also making each of my patients feel heard and cared for. The prospect of developing long-term relationships with my patients is one that I am excited about and is one of the main reasons I was drawn to family medicine.
What attracted you to the Duke Family Medicine Residency Program?
A supportive culture that existed among the residents and faculty was one of the first things that struck me about the program. It was clear that residents felt supported by both faculty members and fellow residents and I felt that this would be a fantastic environment to undertake my residency training. The emphasis on population health was another highlight for me. I believe that family physicians have a unique platform upon which to stand and advocate for their patients and for the population within their communities, and I want to be able to incorporate this advocacy into my future career. The opportunity to explore issues regarding the social determinants of health in the Durham area with the supervision and guidance of faculty members is something that I felt would be a fantastic opportunity and one that will empower me with skills that will benefit the community in which I practice.
In your opinion, what makes Duke Family Medicine special?
The people, the Duke community as a whole, and the program-wide motivation to advance health care in the community. Everyone that I have had the chance to meet has a unique set of passions and skills and the program allows the flexibility to explore these passions and foster these skills in order to become the physician each person dreams to become. Having the Duke community and the resources that are present provides a broader level of support in which these interests can be explored and these skills can be further developed.
What strengths or skills do you have that could be of benefit to the community?
Familiarity with the Durham community and some of the health inequities that currently exist, going back to my time as an undergraduate student at Duke. An interest in further exploring these inequities and in collaborating with others in order to develop solutions to such inequities in order to advance community health.
What are you passionate about?
Sports medicine; nutrition and exercise counseling; adolescent medicine; teaching and mentoring, especially as it pertains to the education of medical students
What are your hobbies outside of work?
My favorite hobby is weightlifting; my fiancee and I love spending time in the gym. I am also an avid fan of all Cincinnati Bearcats sports, so we watch as many games as we can. I love to cook, play the guitar, explore new restaurants, do anything outside, read, and spend time with family.
If you have lived in the area for awhile, what is the best part of living in the Durham/Triangle area?
There is literally something for everyone in this area. Whatever you love to do, you can find a place to do it here, and there is always something going on. Plus, the food scene is incredible. It also doesn't hurt that we are about two hours from the mountains and two hours from the beach.
What is something interesting that not many people know about you?
I can do a standing back tuck and I can also do a fantastic pterodactyl impression.
Education and Training
University of Louisville School of Medicine; MD
Duke University; BA, English