Tell Us A Little About Your Background and What Drew You To OB/GYN.
I’m a Florida native. I grew up in the Panhandle, in Marianna, and I’m a third-generation doctor. Both of my grandfathers were doctors, and my father was a well-trained general surgeon in Marianna. My mother was a nurse. I’m the oldest of four boys, and a sense of responsibility was instilled in me early on. A responsibility to my community and to my fellow folks here in north Florida.
From a young age, I wanted to carry on the family legacy as a physician. I started medical school pursuing plastic surgery. Little did I know I’d end up in OB/GYN. What drew me in was the variety and the continuity of caring for patients through every stage of life, from adolescence through menopause. It’s like being a family doctor and a specialist rolled into one. I love that combination of medical knowledge and surgical skill the field requires.
Where Did You Go To Medical School and Do Your Residency? What Was That Experience Like?
I began my medical school journey at FSU through the PIMS program, a precursor to the FSU College of Medicine, and completed most of my medical education at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, where I graduated in 2000. From there, I went on to residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville (a top 12 program in the nation at the time). I was fortunate to be selected and I made the most of it. There’s no better teacher than experience and I feel like I got the best possible exposure and volume across every aspect of women’s health.
How Have You Seen the Field Change Over the Years and What Does Being An OB/GYN Provider Mean To You?
I’ve seen a lot of advancement in OB/GYN and a fair number of setbacks too. There have been huge gains in treatment options, less invasive surgical techniques, and medications to manage common women’s health issues. There’s also vaccinations whose full impact we won’t see for decades, but which will matter enormously.
On the harder side, I’ve watched funding and resources pulled away from women’s health services and I’ve seen what that’s done to maternity care in this country. Rural communities have lost access as care becomes more “regionalized” toward larger, urban areas, and we’re seeing more high-risk pregnancies and worse health outcomes as a result. It’s part of why regular, quality prenatal and gynecologic care matter so much.
Being an OB/GYN means being part of daily, life-changing moments which most of the time are joyful, sometimes not. There’s a real need out there, especially for patients with fewer resources. One of the best parts of my job isn’t just caring for my patient it’s actually caring for her whole family. I’m at the point in my career now where I’m treating patients I once delivered as babies, which is amazing. (And yes, I know I look young. I promise I’m more experienced than I look.) I love the long-term relationships I build with patients.
What's Something About This Career That Surprised You and Something You Didn't Fully Anticipate Going In?
Just how demanding it is. When it’s good, it’s great but when it’s bad, it’s genuinely hard. I don’t think people always realize the acuity of this field; it really can be a life-and-death situation. I try to focus on the wins and the successes, because that’s what keeps me going also knowing I’m not perfect, but that I still get to make a positive difference.
Was There Ever A Moment When You Questioned Your Path? What Keeps You Going?
This is a demanding area of medicine so when it’s good, it’s great, and when it’s bad, it’s terrible. But there are real victories along the way and those are what keep me focused and moving forward.
What's the Most Exciting Advancement You've Seen In Women's Health or Medicine During Your Career?
The Gardasil HPV vaccine. Without question it’s going to save patients a lot of anxiety and health issues down the road. I’d also point to minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, which has changed recovery and outcomes for so many patients.
What Would You Say To A Patient Who Has Been Putting Off Coming In Or Feels Nervous About Seeing An OB/GYN?
It’s completely normal to feel anxious about an OB/GYN visit. It isn’t a typical primary care appointment and we understand that. We’re always prepared to make the visit as comfortable and stress-free as possible. That first step matters: many conditions can be caught early with regular visits and addressed before they become bigger problems. And for expectant moms, routine prenatal care is directly linked to better outcomes for both mother and baby.
What's Your Favorite Thing About Tallahassee/ the Community You Serve?
Even though I grew up across the Apalachicola River in Marianna, I consider myself a Tallahassee native at this point. Some of the best times of my life and best friendships have happened here. Tallahassee is the state capital, but it’s still a small town at heart, and I love that about it — running into patients out and about, seeing kids I’ve delivered and where they’ve ended up in life. I love meeting new patients and finding that connection. I think that bond is really at the heart of why I do what I do.
I’m also an avid outdoorsman. I love the water, the coast, the outdoors, my family, my hunting dogs, and the conservation efforts that help protect that way of life here.
