Press Kit

Former White House Physician Assistant, now Physician Associate.

Coming early 2027: the second edition, Venom and Valor: White House Physician Associate Recovers from the Amazon Near Death Experience.

Author of the award-winning memoir Venom and Valor, 2025 AAPA PA of the Year, and 11th Army Physician Associate Consultant to The Surgeon General, I have spent over 37 years in the U.S. Army leading clinicians, teams, and organizations through the highest-stakes moments in medicine.

Leadership: I currently command and direct an Executive Medical team in the National Capital Region. I recently completed a tour as Commander of Public Health Command, West. Earlier roles include Director of the Medical Capability Development and Integration Directorate, Branch Chief of the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (2018-2021), Chief Medical Advisor appointed by the President on the COVID Task Force (2020-2021), and positions at the White House (2009-2018), including PA to the President and Director of Operations.

Education and training: Master of Physician Associate Studies in Family Medicine, University of Nebraska (2000); PhD in Health Science, Trident University (2009); Master of Strategic Study, Army War College (2021); tactical medical officer training at the White House (2010); and a Protective Medicine Fellowship in cardiopulmonary critical care resuscitation at the Mayo Clinic, Phoenix (2015).

Field experience: As IPAP Program Manager at US Army Recruiting Command (2005-2009), 187th Company Commander (2003-2005), Director of Health Services in Qatar (2002-2003), and BN Surgeon at 1-82 FA, Fort Hood (2000-2002), I established preventive, routine, and emergency services for over 5,000 service members and planned medical contingency operations for official visits to over 94 countries.

Teaching and writing: I have taught cardiology, served as Editor-in-Chief of Cardiology STAT Pearls, published numerous peer-reviewed clinical articles and four PA cardiology review textbooks, and led international research initiatives while deployed. Today I share a twice-daily Clinical Learning Series on Cardiology, Pulmonary, Exercise Physiology, and Sleep (see the Learning Series page).

Honors: 2025 AAPA PA of the Year; 2021 AAPA Military Service Award; Secret Service Life Saving Award; Presidential Service Badge; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Joint Commendation Medal; Expert Field Medical Badge; Flight Surgeon Badge; Gold German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge. Member of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, the Order of the Spur, and the Order of Military Medical Merit.

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