Medical Expertise
I am a traditionally trained Western Medicine physician who received my MD degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. However, prior to going to medical school I was a practicing pharmacist, which I still do on a part-time basis. Through my experience as a pharmacist and my training and experience to be, and as a physician, I have learned that medications and procedures are not always the answer to patients problems. So, I incorporate alternative treatments, therapies, supplements and homeopathic in the therapies I prescribe. Many people as sensitive and/or cannot tolerate medications, and procedures often result in complications.
My practice is patient focused and patient guided. I take the time and listen to patients, not only the signs and symptoms of what may be bothering them, but also how it is affecting their life and what their fears are. I encourage patients to participate in their care and also do their own research, for any individual knows their body better than I ever will. I am easy to get in touch with, and make every effort to get patients as soon as possible when necessary and return phone calls the same day. The last things any one wants when it comes to their health is to WAIT!
My practice is very straight forward and transparent. All interactions with patients are through me, from the scheduling of appointments, to in office greeting, vital signs and physical examination. The feed back I receive continues to be appreciative, grateful and positive.
The positive feedback I continue to hear the most over and over is that my patients feel “heard”, and definitely not “herded” through a system of red tape, and appreciate the time I take and spend with them.
Procedures & Services
About Me
Born and raised just south of Richmond in Petersburg, I have been in Richmond, for the better part of 25 years. I am a life long learner, on of the draws to medicine for me, have to keep up with the forever changing landscape of practicing medicine. It was during my practice as a pharmacist and training to become a physician that I realized medications and medical interventions were not always the answer, often times the medicines and interventions caused more problems than fixing the underlying one as intended. As well, for most medications they treat symptoms and not the underlying cause, often resulting in more tests, medications and procedures, so I set out to find a different way. Which is how I came across Functional and Integrative medicine, which looks for the underlying cause of why symptoms is experiencing the condition or symptoms they are.
Education & Training
American Board of Independent Medical Examiners, Board Certification 2023;
Medical Review Officer Certified by the Medical Review Officer Certification Council (2016);
Local Medical Examiner Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Central District 2012
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (Internal Medicine Internship);
Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Doctorate (MD);
Virginia Commonwealth University Master of Pharmacology and Toxicology (MS). Research focus on opioids and cannabinoids;
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BPharm)
Virginia Commonwealth University Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.
Personal
I grew up working in a family-owned business. My dad bought into a local pharmacy in the 1970’s and beginning around age 12 I was working in the pharmacy. I started off at $1.00 per hour in the early 80’s stocking shelves, filling the drink machine and waiting on customers. By the time I was 14 years old I was making $2.00 per hour. This gave me the perspective, by the time I was 16, and my dad had to pay me minimum wage, $3.15 per hour, I thought I was making the big bucks. I could pretty much drop out of high school and live off this “massive” income I was then making. However, short lived was my dream of living on minimum wage evaporated after I started dating my first girlfriend. The lessons learned growing up working in a family-owned business, especially serving the needs of persons requiring prescription and non-prescription remedies to treat various maladies. I learned what it meant to provide valued customer service, that often meant being available after store hours, and making visits to customers homes deliver medications and medical supplies.
I learned what it meant to provide valued customer service, that often meant being available after store hours, and making visits to customers homes deliver medications and medical supplies. I continue this work ethic as a medical doctor, being available to patients, spending the time listening and getting to know them as people. I strive to find the underlying cause of the conditions my patients are seeking treatment of, and more importantly the alleviation of unlerlying problems than just throwing medications at symptoms.