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Originally published September 21, 2026
Last updated September 21, 2026
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He sees patients at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, USC Arcadia Hospital and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. Here’s what you won’t find on his resume.
“I was always fascinated by anatomy and biology as a kid, and several family members are surgeons: My father and grandfather were general surgeons, and my grandmother was a surgical pathologist. Naturally, I was interested in surgery from a young age.
There was a brief period in college when I thought I would become a backcountry ski guide! That, however, never came to be.”
“I have two young boys, so much of my time is spent practicing sports and going to games with them. We also love the outdoors and exploring the San Gabriel Mountains. During the week, my wife and I enjoy preparing dinner together. We buy produce and meats from our local farmers market, and I find it very satisfying to cook delicious and healthy food at home.”
“I think it would be a great experience to live internationally for a time. I’d also like to go heliskiing in Alaska and learn to play the guitar.”
“My favorite travel destinations are anywhere I can lose track of time because of the natural beauty of the surroundings. I like to visit big mountains, the ocean, Cinque Terre in Italy and Oracabessa in Jamaica.”
“If I could trade careers with anyone in the world, it would be an actor because the idea of it fascinates me. To be able to think deeply about a role that requires you to learn about different periods of time, dive into interesting peoples’ lives and learn new skills sounds amazing. I think that constant exploration of new and different things must be really satisfying.”
“My favorite TV show is ‘Game of Thrones.’ It’s just such good storytelling.”
“My grandfather taught me a lot about how to live a full life. He always cultivated family in a very purposeful way. He was a surgeon who then went to law school in his 50s. He continued skiing big terrains and playing the violin at a high level well into his 80s. He was also a rabid reader and always had something to share that he’d recently learned. He wanted to be absorbed in the things that brought him joy, in a way that I’ve always looked up to.”
“I am incredibly interested in applying performance science to medicine. We can learn so much from other high-performance sectors — like athletics, special forces/military, performing arts and executive leadership — that can be applied to clinicians and surgeons.
Medicine is demanding and can impact the rest of your life. I think it is important to find innovative ways to support clinicians so that they are ready to show up and provide the best care they can consistently.”
“The best advice I ever received: ‘Don’t think so much about what other people think of you.’”
“I was initially inspired to become a doctor because of my interest in anatomy and physiology and a surgeon’s ability to work within those confines. Then, it was realizing the fulfillment that comes from forming a relationship with a patient and their family as I guide them through the problem at hand. The first got me started, and the second keeps me going.”
“The most rewarding part of my job by far is seeing people on the other side of an operation. I love to see their determination to overcome their medical issue and get back to their lives. It motivates me to do my best work and to get to know each patient so that I can help them reach their specific postoperative goals.”
“My patients can expect authenticity during every visit with me. I’m inspired to be the best physician I can every day, because that’s the type of care that patients deserve.”
“Thoracic surgery allows you to treat people with all sorts of disease processes. It requires a variety of surgical skills, including performing open, minimally invasive, robotic and endoluminal procedures.”
“Robotic capabilities have been the most impactful advancement in my field, along with the introduction of novel therapeutic agents to combat lung cancer. In the future, I hope to see augmented reality seamlessly married with robotic capabilities to further enhance patient care.”
“Smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer. My research was inspired by patients diagnosed with nonsmoking-related lung cancers. I am actively working to identify ways to identify curable lung cancer earlier, from a more comprehensive set of risk factors.”
“I chose to practice at an academic medical center for a few reasons. It is important to me to help develop the next generation of surgeons and contribute to innovative research that pushes our field forward. In addition, when treating cancer, it is of the utmost importance to be part of a stellar multidisciplinary team, and I’m appreciative of the resources and expertise available in academic medicine.”
“I am proud of the experience we offer patients here at Keck Medicine. I constantly hear from my patients about the excellent treatment and service they received from a nurse, a therapist, a valet or a security guard. It feels good to be a part of something so high-quality.
I’m also proud to be part of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Our surgeons and the rest of the clinical team are dedicated to providing the best care for each unique patient. We are collaborative and committed to the relationships we forge with our patients.”
