I grew up, the child of entrepreneurs, in Prosper, Tx with my younger 3 sisters and 1 brother. I attended college at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Tx followed by obtaining a masters degree in Health Psychology from Texas State University. I then left the great state of Texas to attend medical school at Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine outside of Phoenix, Az but was fortunate enough to move back in 2011 to do residency at Methodist Charlton Medical Center here in Dallas, where I completed my residency in Family Medicine in 2014. I’m currently married to my college sweetheart and have been blessed with 4 children.
Growing up, I had a pre-existing condition and was unable to get health insurance coverage. In addition, my parents owned their own business and money was often in short supply around the household. I watched my mom scrape together money to take me to the doctor for a sore throat and always felt like something was wrong with the system. The doctor would barely have time to see me and the only history would be what the front desk or medical assistant had asked. As I progressed in my medical career, my desire to do something different continued to evolve but became more solidified that our current healthcare system is inefficient and excessively priced. In December of 2016, I opened the first step in my dream for what healthcare could be and should be in our local East Dallas neighborhood: Paradigm Family Health. A clinic dedicated to taking care of its patients…not taking care of the insurance company.
I’ve always wanted to be a family doctor, even during those visits as a kid that I felt weren’t what they should and could be. That desire has never changed since I first wrote it in my kindergarten “all about me” book. Our social and mental wellness is such a big part of our physical wellness, so a bachelor’s in Psychology and a master’s in Health Psychology was an obvious choice for me. With the opening of my practice, I have been fortunate enough to help my community in so many different ways. Our community is what helps pull us up on our worst days and helps us celebrate our best days. When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, I saw a friend post on Facebook that there were only band aids and Tylenol at the convention center. With some quick social media connecting and social media-driven fundraising, we found a neighboring pharmacist and brought meds to the convention center before the traditional services made it through the flood waters. We continued to help with providing medical resources to healthcare providers in the Houston area, all along the coast, to Beaumont and parts of Louisiana. Our network of physicians working to resource funds, gather needed supplies and then get them packaged and transported on volunteer private aircraft to their destinations. We were ready and continued to help when Florida and the US Virgin Islands were hit by Hurricane Irma. And then again when Maria hit Puerto Rico. In the end, we were able to raise, collect and transport millions of dollars of needed medical supplies to these communities. I still to this day am proud of what our community in Dallas helped me step up and do and what our medical community around the country aided with.
We continue to look for ways we can help impact our local community, not just our larger community. Whether it’s giving free vaccinations, helping organize mass drive-thru events, volunteering at a shelter or simply sponsoring projects by our local non-profits and schools – we have been so blessed to be able to give back.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I married my college sweetheart Phil, and we have 7yo Braelyn, 4yo Colette, 3yo Hampton, and 1yo Charlotte. Gus is our super active dog who round out the family!
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Well, a lot was recapped above, but I love being able to help people. Period. It sounds cheesy, but it’s so rewarding. I love family medicine because every day it’s different. I have to use every part of my brain every day. I’m grateful we have cardiologists, but man would I be bored just seeing chest pain and high blood pressure!
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
El Vencino, Scalini’s, and my favorite comfort food is Tony’s
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
since 2010 actually; I was able to finish a lot of my 4th yr of medical school back in the DFW area
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Now that’s a hard question that I really can’t answer. What I can say is our community is full of some of the most amazing individuals!
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Greece. Never been. Always wanted to.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Shrek. Can’t imagine watching any other movie 100 times and still chuckling. Currently, I love Abbott Elementary. As a doctor, we see sadness and death a lot, so I like to stay in the humor world when I’m relaxing at home.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
See a need, fill a need.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Travel more, see the wonders of the world.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
I have 4 kids…we primarily listen to the Disney radio station….. But Hall & Oates always makes me smile
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Curiosities
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Condoleezza Rice
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
It’s always felt like people are accepting of each other’s difference and work together as a community.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Working at Paradigm Family Health, but hopefully we’ll continue to grow and change healthcare.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I use to be ashamed of this, but of late, I think it’s really important to talk about. My father committed suicide when I was 16. We need to be vocal about mental illness and help our community when people are hurting. We don’t need to hide it.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Alaska
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
April. It may be the calmest month activity-wise. Fav holiday, previously Christmas, but my Halloween game has been stepping up. Best day on the calendar – every day I’m here.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
It’s not here. But I still have dreams about a green chili burrito from El Norte in downtown Phoenix. We “joke” that someday we will bring them to open a store here in Dallas.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My kids. I want their kids to smile with pride when they talk about how awesome their Grandma was.
Q: How do you ignite kindness in your community?
By striving to do a kind thing every day. Pass it on, a spark becomes a wildfire.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
freshly baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
cozy, calming, soothing
