Home: Dallas, TX. Age: Older than Biden but younger that Bernie Sanders. Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA. Profession: Psychiatric and functional medicine counselor. Pronouns: He/Him/His. Alma mater: University of Houston; UT Southwestern Medical School. Languages spoken: English, and literary German.
Current project: Teaching the things that I have learnt from mentors, my personal research, and my patients. Recent professional development: Advocating for and educating about true functional medicine applications and comprehensive wellness. Hobbies: Competitive distance running, tennis, dancing; news junkie. Last book read: Outlive, by Peter Attia. Recently viewed and recommended: The Rachel Maddow Show.
What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? The Chief. Moral compass: The principles advocated by the late Stephen Covey. How do you define a perfect friendship? Unconditional, incorporating humor and mutual understanding.. and complaining. How do you define an ideal business relationship? A shared passion for learning and helping others; synergy. What is your greatest joy? Seeing my children grow into mature, healthy, and independent adults. What is your greatest fear? Losing a loved one. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Buying books and providing nice things for the love of my life. What is at the top of your bucket list? Visit England and Japan with my significant other.
What was your first paying job? Grocery store clerk. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Arthur. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Etched glass trophy for winning Dallas Masters Marathon (time: 2:32!). Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? Donald Klein, the father of modern American psychiatry and my personal mentor. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Give everything that you can to take care of the people that you love. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Look at the empiric evidence. What is your go-to source of news and information? CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times.
What is your big idea?
American medicine is not based on science and is controlled by insurance companies.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Take stances that are nontraditional in order to help people to see things from alternative perspectives. What change would you like to see in the world? I would love to see us united instead of divided, especially in the face of the corruption that exists. What widely held belief do you reject? That certain races, genders, and people of disparate economic status are not of equal value.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Unconquered: Never Give Up. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Harrison Ford. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? Mark Twain. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My original copy of the DSM-1. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With the one person who I’ve ever really connected with. What advice would you give your younger self? Be patient; decisions feel better with time. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? A Saturday night in Las Vegas in 2018; I was with the love of my life.
Favorite quote: “...meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same” (Rudyard Kipling). Desired epitaph: Dedicated his life to helping other people to live their best lives possible.
