Where did you go to college? Additional schooling/training?
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and Master of Science Family Nurse Practitioner degree at Baylor University. I then completed a pediatric orthopedic fellowship for advanced practice providers (APPs) through Scottish Rite for Children and Children's Health.

Why did you want to become a nurse practitioner? Have you always wanted to work in pediatric orthopedics?
When I started college, I knew I wanted to be a nurse practitioner. I ended up pursuing the family nurse practitioner route with plans to get out of the city and go practice in a small town near a lake where I could enjoy the outdoors. While in grad school I was working in the emergency room at Children's Medical Center and became fascinated with orthopedics and the role of the orthopedic APPs. In 2007, I joined the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine team, working together initially at Children's Medical Center Dallas and eventually transitioning our practice to the Scottish Rite Frisco campus almost 10 years later. I serve as the Director of the Fracture Clinic and have been with this team now for 14 years. I am extremely lucky to have some great mentors and role models to guide me throughout my career.

What was your first job? What path did you take to get here or what led you to Scottish Rite?
While in college I worked as an EMT and a patient care tech at a local hospital. I gained some valuable experience in those roles and ultimately gained a general understanding of how our health care system worked, from both the prehospital and inpatient settings.

Is there anything you want people to know about the Fracture Clinic or more generally speaking, pediatric fractures?
The Fracture Clinic has been a big success because we have an incredible team assembled to provide patients and families with the absolute best pediatric orthopedic care available. This team is special, and everyone on it truly enjoys what they do, which manifests in the care/experience our patients receive. Families present to our clinic at some of their lowest moments, and we see this as an opportunity to have a positive impact on that experience.

What is your favorite part of your job?
I truly feel like I have the greatest job in the world. I get to help a child and their parents through a stressful and often challenging time in their lives. It’s an incredible feeling, and I am grateful for that opportunity.

What energizes you outside of work?
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and doing just about anything outdoors. My wife, Lindsay, and I have two boys, Drake (6) and Walker (2). In our downtime we are usually hunting, fishing or playing whatever sport is in season.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you:
A few years ago, I got to go hunting in early January on St. Paul Island, in the middle of the Bering Sea. This is where they film the popular Discovery Channel show The Deadliest Catch.