I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I obtained my undergraduate degree from the Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. I attended medical school at Creighton University School of Medicine, followed by a surgical internship at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, and an orthopedic surgery residency at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. Afterward, I completed a hand-to-shoulder and microsurgery specialty fellowship at the prestigious Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center. I am board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and hold board certification for hand surgery. Immediately after the fellowship, I returned to Omaha to join the Methodist Physicians Clinic.
In January 2020, Methodist Physicians Clinic orthopedic surgeons joined MD West ONE effective March 1, 2020, creating the largest group of orthopedic, neurosurgery, and spine specialists in our region. This partnership allows us to provide more efficient and cost-effective care to our patients.
Hand surgery generally attracts the most detail-oriented and inquisitive orthopedic surgeons, and I am no exception. I am highly detail-oriented and thrive on finding solutions for complex orthopedic challenges. As an orthopaedic specialist, I make it a point to perform a comprehensive evaluation and provide open and honest advice to my patients and insight and understanding on different treatment options.
Whether you have a common condition such as a wrist fracture, injured finger, carpal tunnel syndrome with median nerve injury, sports injury of the upper extremity, broken bones, dislocated finger, or need a joint replacement, I am uncompromising in devising the best individualized treatment plan and treatment options for you. I utilize the most up-to-date innovative techniques in treatment plans, including minimally-invasive and opioid-sparing techniques.
While most surgeons are uncomfortable with patients being wide awake during surgery, I prefer patients to be awake so they can have an active role in their surgical experience and treatment plan and overall decisions regarding surgical care. The operating room is my sanctuary. At times, I utilize a microscope with a surgical field less than half an inch in diameter to repair delicate severed nerves and blood vessels. This requires high focus and concentration levels with fine movements of surgical instruments. I believe hand surgery should be conducted in silence, with a care team anticipating the surgeon's every move.
I treat patients referred from various health systems, including the Methodist Hospital and the Nebraska Medical Center. Frequently, patients drive from western Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, and South Dakota for evaluation and treatment. I also offer a second opinion, record review, or virtual appointment to those unable to have an in-person clinical evaluation.
My office is located at MD West ONE medical office in Fountain Ridge, and I have surgical privileges at Midwest Surgical Hospital and all Methodist Hospital facilities.
When I am not in office or operating, I prefer the silence and exploration of the deep sea and swimming with the sharks. I travel under the pseudonym "Jacques Cousteau."