Meet the Class of 2021

Which member of of the OU faculty would be your first choice to work with on a tough call night, and why?

I would have to go with Brian Chenoweth or any of the Peds bosses.  They are all talented, knowledgeable, and generally pleasant.  And pleasant goes a really long way at 3 am.

What will you miss most about living in Oklahoma?

I will miss my Church community at St. Damien's.  They have been a huge part of life here in OKC for my family.

What is your worst habit?

I absolutely cannot eat fewer than four cookies at a time.

How would you define a "good day" on the job?

A good day is having the opportunity to change someone's life through orthopedics and being able to see that change in motion.  When a patient returns to clinic for followup and a surgery has improved their life, you can see it reflected on their face.  It's incredible.

What's your favorite day-trip when you get unexpected time off?

I'm always up for heading out to my parents' lake house on Lake Eufaula, any chance I get!

What's the best compliment you've ever received?

My father-in-law giving me permission to marry his daughter.  She's incredible.  It means so much for him to have that kind of trust in me.

What personality trait of yours do you think has been most helpful to your success in residency?

Holding yourself to a high standard and wanting to be good at whatever you commit yourself to.

How would you describe OU fans to someone completely unfamiliar?

If you could imagine a Texas fan... but without the ego and actually having a good football team.  That would be a perfect description of an OU fan.

What trend do you hope makes a comeback?

Mullets!

What is one orthopedic area all physicians should be aware of, regardless of specialty or subspecialty?

How to detect hip dysplasia in a newborn.  Early detection can change a patient's life.

What is your favorite weekend getaway when you need to get some downtime?

Santa Fe, New Mexico is perfect for a long weekend.  It's close enough to drive easily, and has great hiking and great food!

What food do you wish had zero calories?

Ice cream!

What could you give a 30-minute presentation about with zero advance preparation?

Powerlifting, fitness theory, or nutrition.  But... related to ortho, I'd say total knees.

What do you consider to be the OU Ortho legacy?

I consider our legacy to be consistently doing the right thing and advocating for our patients.  You should count yourself lucky if you find a surgeon in the community who trained at OU.  He or she will take care of you like family.

If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature, what new animal would you create?

Hmmm... Probably a cow and a lobster.  We'd have readily available land animals that could supply us with mad amounts of lobster meat.  Freaking delicious.

What is the key to making the most of orthopedic residency?

Work hard, and do your best to keep a positive attitude!

How has OKC changed since you began your residency?

Honestly, quite a lot has changed!  OKC is continually adding unique, fun new venues for food/drinks and entertainment.

If you could only have three apps on your phone, what would you choose?

Uber Eats, Reddit, and Google Maps