After more than 25 years as a surgeon and thousands of operations, I’ve come to believe that one of the greatest successes in medicine is helping patients avoid surgery altogether.
I’ve always wanted to be a surgeon. I studied pre-medicine and electrical engineering at the University of Mississippi before attending Washington University School of Medicine and completing my surgical training at Saint Louis University Hospital. It was there that I met my wife, Barbara. We married before moving to Jefferson City in 1996, and this community has been home ever since.
My years in surgery have been incredibly rewarding and humbling. Having the opportunity to operate on friends and neighbors is a privilege I have never taken lightly. As medicine has advanced, I’ve become equally passionate about helping patients avoid surgery whenever possible. That philosophy led me to create the Genesis companies, where minimally invasive treatments and proactive wellness allow many patients to receive care in the office instead of the hospital.
The most gratifying part of my work is watching people take control of their health and succeed. We provide the tools, guidance, and expertise, but lasting health requires commitment from the patient. Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to learn from outstanding teachers and mentors, but no one has influenced me more than my wife. Barbara has been the rock at my side, the keeper of our home, and the mother of our children. Above all, our faith has shaped every step of this journey. I’ve always believed medicine is a mission, not a career, and that God places each of us where we’re needed most.
Barbara and I have four grown children and one granddaughter. I enjoy golfing, traveling, spending time at the Lake of the Ozarks, and making memories with family and friends. Jefferson City has been incredibly good to us. We have been blessed to call it home, and I’m grateful to everyone who has trusted me with their care over the years.
If I could leave readers with one piece of advice, it would be this: follow your dreams, work hard, give back to the world, learn something new every day, and never stop doing your best. My career has been wonderful, but what truly defines me is my family, my faith, and the opportunity to serve this community.