As the medical director of Cancer Services at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D., I spend my days caring for patients during a trying and stressful time of his or her lives. It is rewarding to see my care and treatment change a patient who was so stressed by his or her diagnosis to one who is feeling better and doing well. I believe in providing quality care that addresses the needs of my patients. For many of my cancer patients this care includes pain management, nutritional and psychological support in addition to radiation therapy. In addition to treating patients for cancer, I have been involved in the development and promotion of our local survivorship program. I have been a practicing radiation oncologist since 1992. I received my undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., and my medical degree from Cornell University Medical College, New York, N.Y.
As the son of a career military officer, I got to travel a lot as a child. I still enjoy traveling and have been fortunate in having been able to travel extensively both within the United States and internationally. In addition to traveling I enjoy biking, playing squash and listening to live music. I enjoy every kind of music from rock to jazz to classical. I am married to a wonderful rehabilitation medicine physician named Judith, who is a well-known expert in dance medicine. In addition to being a physician, she is also an excellent artist who has had her work displayed in a number of museums and galleries. We have two grown daughters, whom we enjoy spending time with when they are home from college.
