My love for international travel and short-term mission service are probably what I am best known for. On most of my trips, I have been privileged to combine my love of adventure with my love for mentoring other physicians. Some of my favorite trips include training physicians in India, Thailand, Afghanistan, and Malawi.

My most treasured memory from medical school occurred my freshman year when I met my wife at the MORE (Medical Out-Reach Evangelism) Club. At that time, she was a student in the School of Public Health. Our friendship blossomed as we shared vespers, group Bible studies, and short mission clinic trips to Mexico. Through the last 25 years together, she has been my rock, keeping me balanced through the hard years of training and building a practice. I praise God for her tenacity raising three amazing children.

When I was in Guam for a short-term service, I cared for a young girl who was admitted to the hospital with a new onset of ascites. A work up with paracentesis, ultrasound, and CT scan confirmed that she had acute hepatic vein thrombosis (Budd Chiari Syndrome). Her symptoms began to deteriorate as her liver failed. I knew that without a liver transplant, she would never survive. With her case hanging heavy on my heart, I went for a jog along the beach one early morning. Pausing for a moment along a rock outcropping, I pleaded with God to intervene. I will never forget the spectacular full circular rainbow that took shape as I ran on. I felt a tremendous peace that God heard and would give wisdom to care for this young girl. Within two days, I was able to fly her out to Loma Linda University Medical Center where she subsequently underwent a successful liver transplant.

Since a young child, I dreamed of being a physician. However, if I had not been given the privilege of participating with the Great Physician in healing the human body, I would have chosen to partner with the Great Shepherd to reach people’s spiritual needs.

I am passioned about therapeutic endoscopy. If I could learn something new, it would be to learn surgical techniques to help advance the field of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. Outside of medicine, I wished I could learn how to start a durian farm. Durian is one of my favorite fruits. Certainly, it exudes a distinct smell which is off-putting to some, but I relish this creamy-textured fruit with a rich and distinct taste.

Although I have long forgotten who said it, at my wedding I heard someone say, “Marriage is like a garden”. I am continuing to understand the depths of that advice as I tend daily, water daily, and weed daily. I pray above all that God continues to bless my efforts and provide daily sunshine.