I was born in Long Beach and raised in San Juan Capistrano.  I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Cal State Fullerton. My Master of Science is from Western University, which is where I completed my PA program.  I am a published ethnobotanist, with my research winning the Best Poster Presentation award at the 41st Annual Conference for Economic Botany in June of 2000.  I was also the recipient of the Rachel Carson Scholarship for Conservation Biology for my work with the Acjachemen Nation.

I started my medical career as an EMT on an ambulance crew and worked in several emergency departments.  I discovered my love for the field of orthopedic surgery while assisting on-call orthopedic surgeons as they attended to patients in the emergency room.  I was delighted to discover the scope and role that physician assistants play in an orthopedic surgery practice.  Orthopaedic surgery is a very rewarding field in which we can affect very tangible and life-altering improvements in our patients.  

When I am not working, I can typically be found playing or repairing old guitars, doing outdoorsy stuff, or eating tacos at the beach.