About

About me

Family Physician, 33 year military career, UCSD Assistant Professor, married Melanie Cruz, raised 4 boys in Poway, long time Poway youth coach & Boy Scout leader, involved in Poway American Legion, VFW, FRA, very slow ultra runner, cyclist, & swimmer

More about me …

I grew up in Whittier near Los Angeles. I was raised by my grandparents (photo below) who lived through Great Depression and only had 8^th grade education. My grandfather was an upholsterer, my grandmother was a seamstress, and my dad (and my uncle and cousin) were plumbers – I am the first person in my family to attend college. My grandparents taught me that hard work pays off … they raised four children and owned their own home on $12,500 annual income (I know different times … but inspiring).

I graduated from California High School in Whittier, ran Cross Country and Track & Field, and was Drum Major of the marching band. I attended UCLA undergraduate with a degree in biochemistry, M.D. at New York Medical College, and M.B.A. at George Washington University. There was never any money in my family, so when I got accepted to medical school I called the Army, Navy, and Air Force inquiring about scholarships, and thankfully the USAF gave me a full 4-year scholarship (of course, in exchange for 4 years active duty).

Between UCLA and medical school I did one year of microbiology research at USC School of Medicine and taught one year of high school (Paramount High School) and one year of middle school (Lake Center Middle School) on an emergency teaching credential teaching science and math in Spanish. I took quite a few Spanish classes at UCLA (tried to get Minor in it) and very much enjoyed teaching in Spanish. I was also high school Cross Country and Track & Field coach and middle school Athletic Director.

  I have served in the military for 32 years, mostly reserve, about 7-8 years active duty. I signed on the dotted line in 1991 for my USAF health professions scholarship program to pay for medical school. I started doing my internship in Internal Medicine at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, General Medical Officer doing Family Practice at Bolling AFB in Washington, D.C. for three years, then one year as night-time emergency room doctor at Osan Air Base in South Korea. 

  I then transferred to Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) to attend University of California San Diego Family Medicine Residency to finish my training.  I subsequently worked in a variety of civilian healthcare settings, including Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer in charge of several large clinics, including Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton Family Medicine Clinic Team 2, Mountain Health, San Diego Family Care, California State Prison Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Public Health Department. In these civilian leadership roles I was in charge of both the clinical and financial health of muti-million dollar healthcare organizations.

I rejoined active USAF reserve in 2009 serving at 452 Aeromedical Squadron at March ARB. I transferred to the U.S. Navy in 2015, serving two deployments, one as Director of Medical Services and U.S. Embassy physician for Djibouti, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Kenya at Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Djibouti in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa in 2019 and as Senior Medical Officer Branch Health Clinic Albany (part of Naval Hospital Jacksonville) at Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia in 2020 at the beginning of the COVID pandemic (when Albany was the #1 per capita COVID death rate in the U.S.). I have also served as Senior Medical Officer at Joint Trooper Clinic, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Regimental Surgeon, Fourth Marine Logistics Group, Combat Logistics Regiment 45 in Marietta, Georgia (in charge of medical readiness of 4,500 Marines on east coast, Midwest, and Puerto Rico), and Commanding Officer of the largest Navy Reserve unit in San Diego, Voluntary Training Unit (VTU) at Navy Reserve Center, San Diego. I transferred to the California Army Reserve National Guard in January 2023, and currently serve as Brigade Surgeon for the 79^thInfantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), largest Guard unit in California, in charge of medical readiness of 4,500 soldiers.

I am a family physician, live in High Valley with my wife, four sons raised in Poway, two dogs (Golden and Boston), two brand new kittens, box turtle, and Lionhead rabbit. I run, cycle, swim, and do triathlons (all very slowly … usually one of the last 5-10 guys to finish).

I love living in Poway for its serenity, safety, and “City In The Country” atmosphere which I aim to protect. Poway trails and open space are two of its most valuable attributes contributing to quality of life. Poway volunteers are its most valuable human resource. All Poway residents deserve a voice in City development, traffic safety, and future of Poway decisions.