About Me

I grew up in Colorado and then attended the U.S. Naval Academy for my undergraduate degree and the University of Colorado for medical school, graduating in 1997. My work as a psychiatrist has been influenced by a lifelong, combined interest in both the arts and sciences. I majored in English literature in undergrad while fulfilling the science requirements for admission to medical school. Similarly, in medical school, I pursued electives involving the intersection of literature and medicine. Pursuing a residency in psychiatry seemed a natural extension of my combined interests. I served as a psychiatrist in the Navy for 13 years after residency which involved a broad range experiences from small clinics to hospitals to deployed settings. Ultimately, I now appreciate the ability to establish my own private practice and approach to patient care. 
It is somewhat uncommon for contemporary psychiatrists to also practice psychotherapy, but to me, the two are inseparable. Both during and after residency, I pursued additional training in psychotherapy through the San Diego Psychoanalytic Center. My practice as a therapist and psychiatrist is eclectic and influenced by an appreciation of the unique biological, psychological and social aspects that contribute to emotional well being and/or suffering of an individual person. Biological treatments like medications can be part of a solution but must be used rationally and carefully and are rarely "cures". Insight into the psychology of the individual, especially the hidden parts of thoughts, feelings and behaviors can be invaluable, even if hard won in psychotherapy. Attention to one's social, cultural and environmental context in concert with the above areas is the final part of effective treatment.
Currently, my practice has transitioned to a fully telehealth practice with a small number of psychotherapy patients and a heavier focus on medication management. The necessity of migrating my practice to telehealth during the pandemic has turned into the practicality of offering convenient psychiatric care over the internet. 
I currently reside in San Diego with my two teenagers, two birds and a dog named Simon. I enjoy backpacking, hiking, reading, writing and guitar.