I grew up in a small farming community in Iowa, where I learned early to value hard work, close relationships, and the outdoors. By the time I was 16, I was certain I wanted to become a physician.
Two medical students from my church used to let me quiz them from their notes. I understood very little of what I was reading, but I remember thinking, “I can do that.” Our tiny community library carried medical journals, and I spent hours reading about anatomy, physiology, and the complexity of the human body. That curiosity has stayed with me throughout my career.
I loved nearly every specialty I encountered during medical training, which is exactly why internal medicine felt right. I didn’t want to focus on only one organ system. I wanted to understand how the different pieces of a person’s health fit together.
After nearly two decades in medicine—including eight years in healthcare leadership, where I led Physician Advisors serving 22 hospitals across four states—I chose to return to direct patient care and open Focused Health & Wellness. I wanted the time to listen, understand the full picture and stay involved as my patients’ needs and care evolve.
My areas of focus include adult primary and preventive care, perimenopause and menopause, men’s hormone health, and physician-guided metabolic and weight management, including GLP-1 medications. I approach these concerns through the lens of internal medicine, considering the patient’s medical history, medications, risks, and long-term health rather than looking at one symptom or lab value in isolation.