As a child, I fondly remember our family physician making house calls. At the age of six, I accidentally poured scalding-hot water on my leg, requiring frequent visits from our family physician during the healing process. These visits left a lasting positive impression on me. Again at the age of 12, I required medical care when I fractured my foot.

I was born and raised in a small community in Nebraska, which is where I developed a passion to serve rural communities. So much so that to this day, I continue to live in my hometown with my wife and four children, who are undoubtingly the most important part of my life.

Family has always been the driving force behind everything I do. My father is a physician in our community, and he always took the time to share his experiences with me as I was growing up. Around age 12, I really started listening and learning from his experiences. He has had such a great influence on my life, and because of him, I chose the path of healthcare and management.