Why would you want to hear my story? Part of the healing process involves knowing and trusting your doctor. I’d like to introduce you to myself a bit.

Having grown up in a small town in Kansas (Council Grove) and in a family where I was the only child, I come from a background of trust and respect for others. I graduated from Baker University in 1975 with a degree in music and minor in chemistry and biology and then completed medical school at the University of Kansas, both in Kansas City and Wichita.

After medical school, I completed a three-year residency in Internal Medicine in Wichita through St. Francis, Wesley and the VA. I married Karla at the beginning of my residency. Following residency we moved to Wichita Falls, TX, to serve in the Air Force from 1981-1984. These were good years as I grew as a physician, parent and member of society. Our first two children were born while we were in Wichita Falls.

While in the Air Force, I received additional training in reading echocardiograms (sound wave tests on the heart), as well as diagnosing and treating allergic disorders. After my Air Force commitment was completed, we moved to McPherson, KS to join two of our close friends in practice there (Dr. Sam Claassen and Dr. Dale Schurle and their families). Again I experienced growth as a physician there, but felt that I wanted to be in a bit larger community for a variety of reasons and in 1988 our family moved to Salina to join Mowery Clinic.

At that time, Mowery Clinic had just 12 physicians and I was one of 4 General Internal Medicine physicians. Since then we have grown to around 25 physicians, with many specialties represented. One thing I have always appreciated about Salina is the cooperation and teamwork attitude all the physicians have, no matter what clinic or group they are with. In addition I have really appreciated the commitment to quality and caring that the physicians of Mowery Clinic have demonstrated. While none of us are perfect and we all have bad days, on the whole I have been honored to be associated with the physicians, employees and administration of Mowery Clinic. Here’s a brief history of Mowery Clinic.

Early on in Salina, I did a lot of work in the field of allergies as well as General Internal Medicine. In addition there were no cardiologists when I first arrived and I enjoyed doing quite a bit of diagnosing and treating people with heart disease. As time as gone on and outstanding heart disease specialists have come to Salina, I have moved to a greater interest in infectious diseases. This has always been of interest for me and I have received additional training in Infection Control, which is a very important area today, especially in terms of hospital and surgical patients.

I still am able to use my gifts in the area of music on a regular basis as my wife and I lead a homeschool choir weekly and I also get to play organ for church.

My wife and I have four children whom we have taught at home through high school. Home education has proven to be a marvelous opportunity for us to hopefully share in a deeper way as a family, to continue to learn ourselves and to hopefully impart our values in life to our children in this natural and “real-life” setting. Here’s some information about home education.

Why did I go into the practice of medicine? Early on it was my desire to go into music education. However, after one semester of woodwind methods class I realized that was not for me! I then changed my major to applied music with a concentration in vocal music. I also studied organ and piano. I received a minor in chemistry and biology and then applied and gained acceptance into medical school.

My mother had developed a severe illness (a form of cancer) when I was in eighth grade. Our local doctors and her cancer doctors were very impressive to me and I had always desired to be in a field where I could impact lives and help people while also using my interest in science. I really felt that God was calling me into the field of medicine as a result of my experiences with my mother’s illness.

What a blessing I consider myself to have received as I daily visit with interesting people, interacting with their lives in meaningful ways. I look forward to seeing patients every day and hope that I can in some way help them. The Lord has allowed me to be blessed with a great wife and children as well and I am very thankful for that. As I enter each exam room or hospital room, I pray that the Lord will be able to use this weak vessel (me) to bring some degree of healing and wholeness to at least one person. What a privilege I have each day!