ABOUT

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting my website! I’m a California native, born and raised. Growing up in Brentwood, I didn’t have experience with people living in neighborhoods different from mine. In high school, I traveled with a church group to Tijuana to build houses over spring break and met an early mentor who introduced me to poverty medicine. These experiences built a foundation for working with the underserved and solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine.

After earning a medical degree at Thomas Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia, I completed my residency in family medicine at Harbor – UCLA Medical Center, where I was surrounded by similar-minded colleagues with a passion for working with the homeless, poor, and uninsured. At Harbor, I honed my skills, developed an appreciation for social justice, and discovered a love for teaching. I stayed on as faculty at Harbor for six years, modeling my passions about caring for the impoverished to medical students and residents.

Recognized internationally as a leader in homeless and street medicine, I’m often solicited to speak to undergraduates, medical students, and residents, and to county health departments, hospitals, and conferences about ministering to the homeless and impoverished. Whenever I speak with students or medical practitioners, I always present my philosophy about what it takes to be a “good doctor.”

Voices from the Margins

My writing has appeared in major publications and I’ve been featured in a variety of news outlets. I began writing about my experiences treating the homeless and impoverished so others could understand the importance of advocating for these fellow humans, whether they are dealing with homelessness, addiction, mental illness, poverty, trauma, or some combination. It’s my hope that by reading their stories, you will begin to see them as I do. If more decide to take a stand to make a difference, and more doctors act as “good doctors” and renegades, maybe our communities will begin to recognize the shared humanity of our most vulnerable citizens.