It has been my privilege to practice exclusively as a Hand Specialist in San Diego since the completion of my training in 1989. While the delivery of medical care has changed drastically over the past 20 years I am pleased to retain my independence as a solo practitioner. Although I cannot control the environment of managed care in which we live, I have been able to avoid involvement in any HMO’s or other similar medical care ‘models’.

My Orthopedic training and early interest in Hand Surgery was obtained during residency from 1992 to 1998 in the rigorous program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. I was pleased to be accepted by and to have completed the highly competitive Hand and Microvascular Fellowship at UCSD Medical Center in 1989. With that training, I passed board certification in Orthopedics and the highest level of certification in Hand Surgery. Although passing a test is not a guarantee of a good physician it is the best way for my patients to be assured of my educational competency. In 2000, I again sat for and passed, the certification test for Hand Surgery. I again have a 10 year renewal of my Certificate of Added Qualification in Surgery of the Hand.

Although my training and testing is important, it is my opinion that the measure of a great physician relies on doctor-patient communication. That communication must occur is not news, but to attempting to prioritize this aspect of care in a surgical practice in the current medical environment is a constant challenge. Because of the sub-specialty nature of the field of hand surgery as well as the complexity and ramifications of disorders that affect the hand, my approach is to place emphasis on early, accurate diagnosis. I frequently refer to myself as the patient’s primary physician for their hands.

It is easy to take your hands for granted as long as they are working fine, but loose their use even partial loss for a period of time one begins to appreciate what complex and marvelous devices they are. As our main means of tactile interaction with our environment we are charged with and usually succeed in restoring function. For certain conditions, providing preventive measures and prompt, appropriate, conservative care the need for surgery can be avoided.

In other circumstances possessing the knowledge, expertise and up-to-date treatment methods are important in order to proceed with treatment. In these cases prompt surgical intervention puts you on the path to healing in the most expedient fashion possible Further, by limiting the scope of my practice to the upper extremity, I feel I am better able to employ the most current surgical techniques in the treatment of arthritis, trauma and nerve injury.