LVI Trained Cosmetic Dentist

My birthplace was in Los Angeles and I spent wonderful childhood days there. I was lucky to always be surrounded by lots of family, with aunts, uncles and cousins living on our street or just a few blocks away. Some of my favorite pastimes were drawing, keeping an aquarium and climbing the hill on which we lived to explore and catch lizards and garter snakes.

I always felt called to help people in some way. Initially, I thought that would happen through the priesthood in the Catholic Church, so I attended the seminary for four years. While there I recognized my love of math and science, being privileged to have two outstanding teachers. Father Barnabas Hughes, a Franciscan priest, and Sister Leo Francis spurred my love of learning.

After graduating from the seminary, I attended Loyola Marymount University where my love of animals, science and art continued. Upon graduation, I decided to attend Loyola University Chicago's School of Dentistry, taking the advice of a good friend who was attending dental school. I moved to the Chicago area in the summer of '88. Boy, was it humid!!! (Give me that 'dry heat' anytime.) I really enjoyed dental school by applying artistry to my dentistry and doing lab waxings for my fellow students. Now, being able to artfully create teeth and help people enjoy more functional and cosmetically pleasing smiles, I am blessed to be able to meld many of my interests, skills and talents within my choice of profession.

While I was at Loyola, I was fortunate to have some great instructors - many of the biggest names in the Chicago area. One instructor specifically, Dr. Robert Lowe, is a world-renowned dentist. He taught me that dentistry is not only a science but also an art, and I have tried to follow in his footsteps.

Keeping current with my studies has enabled me to stay head and shoulders above the average dentist. Being a member of and traveling to continuing education courses hosted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) has kept me up to date with the latest techniques and materials modern dentistry has to offer, learning from the people that are creating them. Colleagues such as Dr. Bill Dorfman from ABC's Extreme Makeover and Dr. Bill Dickerson.

While changing lives through high quality dentistry has been professionally rewarding, my wife, Karen, and our four children are my greatest love. Alexander, Jakob, Isabella and Kirsten amaze me every minute of the day.

I have also grown accustomed to the humidity now!!!