Since childhood, I have always had a strong interest in the biological and life sciences. Due to personal experiences with several sports injuries as an adolescent, I developed a deep sense of compassion for the sick and injured, and greatly admire healthcare providers who dedicate their lives to caring for their patients. During my undergraduate studies at Brown University, I majored in Biology and knew that pursuing a career in medicine was the right choice.
After completing medical school I served in the United States Army as a Brigade Surgeon in Mainz, Germany during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Afterward, I completed my residency in Emergency Medicine at Texas A&M University, and have since spent time in a variety of emergency departments throughout Texas.
As the Medical Director and Chief of Staff for Lumin ER, I was given the unique opportunity to help build and develop our series of freestanding ERs throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. One of the major reasons why this opportunity was so alluring for me was having the ability to, from its inception, provide high quality emergency care in a setting that also allows me to spend more time with patients. Having a key role in developing and managing settings where it’s possible to treat each patient as an individual is incredibly rewarding, and also ensures that our team provides the best and most effective care possible. In fact, it is perfectly in line with my personal motto of trying to always do what’s best for the patient.
Having a leadership role with Lumin ER, particularly as we continue to open and introduce additional locations, allows me to set the tone among our staff and with our patients and the community from the beginning. I’m able to set my expectations for patient-centric service and quality care while having the flexibility to tweak policies as needed to ensure positive patient experiences across the board. Generally, hospital ERs do not offer this type of flexibility, or the opportunity to interact with patients on an individual level.
As we continue to expand Lumin ER throughout North Texas, I’ve discovered how large the demand is for experienced emergency physicians, ancillary providers, and technicians. Recruiting and retaining quality personnel currently presents our largest challenge as we grow into the future.
TAFEC has been a wonderful and exciting organization to take part in, as it’s composed of like-minded physicians and others who understand the benefits of FECs. They advocate on our behalf within the healthcare industry and among Texas state lawmakers while providing an umbrella of support to members by encouraging us to interact and collaborate. Additionally, the spotlight that TAFEC shines onto its members provides considerably increased visibility among legislative and industry leaders.
Freestanding emergency centers offer so many benefits to patients and the communities that they serve. From convenient diagnostic and treatment equipment on-site to significantly shortened wait times, FECs encourage an unwavering commitment to quality care and patient-focused emergency medical services. We are grateful to be a part of it all and look forward to the future of Lumin ER in North Texas and with TAFEC.