I was born and raised in Bergen County, New Jersey. Focused on medicine from a young age, I attended Cornell University, followed by SUNY Downstate in New York City for medical school, internship, and residency. My primary training was at the historic Kings County Hospital. My scientific accomplishments include work presented to NASA and the Aerospace Medical Association, and various publications. Following residency, I was pleased to move south to Georgia, home state of my wife, Clancey. We have a son and daughter. I practice hospital medicine across Georgia independently. Outside of work and family, I enjoy Bible study, astronomy, computer programming, and am a licensed amateur radio operator.

My patients often remark on my willingness to spend time listening. I find satisfaction in careful analysis, uncovering root causes and individualizing solutions. Medicine is both art and science—a balance rarely struck these days.

This specialty came about as knowledge of the human body's inner workings increased in the 19th century. The term "internal" does not refer to any particular set of organs, but rather to the fact that diseases lie within, their causes able to be uncovered through a scientific approach. As knowledge and diagnostic capabilities increased, the specialty of Internal Medicine was founded in order to apply new scientific findings and methods toward patient care.

Today, the speciality remains focused on accuracy and completeness, while maintaining a stepwise and logical approach in order to avoid unnecessary testing and worry. The short-term is balanced against the long-term, considering the full course of disease and the future effects of each treatment. From this forward-looking viewpoint, patients' personal preferences are always held in high regard, and judgment is withheld.

Sadly, the trust formerly enjoyed by the medical profession has eroded. Doctors can develop strong, lasting patient-physician relationships by:

1. Keeping a smaller practice, ensuring adequate time for appointments and covering all matters thoroughly.
2. Scrutinizing both new and old treatments and drugs with an unbiased, scientific attitude, and individualizing care for each patient.
3. Speaking honestly and being upfront about chronic conditions. For example, can a disease be cured with enough effort, or only managed?
4. Respecting patients' choices if they want to try a different approach; also, being willing to discuss information patients found on their own.
5. Not recommending treatments where the chance of harm exceeds the benefit, according to the most recent knowledge.

As an Internist, my scope of practice includes primary medical care for adults (age 18+). Referral would be made for complex chronic conditions and surgical matters. Women may be referred to a Gynecologist for screening. Some limitations will apply:

• As a Medicare participating physician, I cannot enroll Medicare members in a Direct Primary Care arrangement at this time.
• As a policy, I do not prescribe scheduled (controlled) substances on a chronic basis (e.g. opioids, benzodiazepines).
• I do not prescribe blood-derived products as a matter of religious conscience; therefore, certain rare blood disorders will be referred to a hematologist.
• I may not be able to perform certain formalized exams, such as for Worker’s Compensation, disability insurance, or government agencies.