After medical training in the United States Marine Corps, I pursued an educational pathway that resulted in a zoology degree from Miami University and medical school at the University of Cincinnati. During my rotations in pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati, I was particularly impressed by the kindness and compassion of the physicians and staff working in pediatrics.

My area of interest slowly evolved to one focused on providing preventive healthcare and acute management for the most medically complex children in an outpatient setting. As a general pediatrician and medical director for the Complex Care Center, my work involves managing acute and chronic conditions in patients with complicated medical conditions, many of whom are dependent on technology.

When I care for children with medical complexities and their families, the primary drivers of my approach are the goals of the patient and their parents or other caregivers. At the Complex Care Center, we provide a patient-centered medical home for medically complex children who live in our area.

Before becoming the medical director of the Complex Care Center, I was a primary care physician in Indiana. I also served as the medical director for a Level 1 nursery. I was the medical director for the Patient-Centered Medical Home Learning Collaborative that assisted local pediatric practices in their transition to the medical home model.

In my research, patient-centric care is the prime motivator for my areas of interest. This research includes the medical home model, telemedicine and transition of patients with medical complexity from inpatient to outpatient environments.

I continue to live in rural Indiana and love watching the bald eagles fish from my backyard. But, I'm not too fond of the way they look at my bulldog, Mr. Wilson.