The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine from 1992-1997. I did an extra year between my second and third year called a fellowship where I helped teach anatomy and manipulation (OMT) skills to first and second year medical students. After a year spent completing a family practice internship at the Maine Dartmouth Family Residency Program in Augusta/Waterville, Maine, I went to Michigan State University in Lansing for two years to complete my neuromusculoskeletal residency training. Upon completing the residency in 2001, I started in private practice at my current Westbrook location.

During my years in medical school and residency, I also served on the American Holistic Medical Association’s (AHMA) board of trustees. This was the first doctor-run organization started in the late 1970’s to bring physicians together to share and learn about the different philosophies and treatments within the growing holistic/integrative medical fields. It has been so successful that the organization, which recently changed its name to the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM), now includes practitioners from across the healthcare spectrum, such as Dr.’s, nurses, acupuncturists, and naturopaths. Being introduced early in my career to holistic doctors from around the country who are experts in their respective fields gave me a greater understanding of how to approach patient care and also a realization that there are many other ways for people to become healthier besides reliance on medications.

While at Michigan State, I did extensive training with a physical therapist, hence, a big part of my practice is spending time with patients showing them how to stretch, do abdominal core strengthening exercises, and rehabilitate areas with chronic pain. Additionally, two of my mentors at Michigan State, Fred Mitchell Jr., D.O., and the late Philip Greenman, D.O., both leaders in the field of biomechanics, helped solidify my understanding of how the body  adapts to complex mechanical changes in the face of chronic injuries.

D.O.’s are required to complete extensive continuing medical education (C.M.E.’s) throughout our careers to maintain a license to practice. My particular specialty of neuromusculoskeletal medicine, or NMM, requires 150 hours per every three years. Most of my C.M.E. hours I spend furthering my understanding of the body’s biomechanical changes from chronic pain, sports medicine and injection techniques.