I graduated from the University of North Carolina just before its halcyon basketball era and completed a stint in the Navy before entering the Johns Hopkins medical school. After graduation I trained in General and Thoracic Surgery at Hopkins and the University of Chicago where I was on the faculty from 1981 till 1988. The remainder of my career was in academic thoracic surgery, serving as the Chairman of the Departments of Surgery at the University of Nevada and Wright State. I was active in national thoracic surgical societies as a speaker and participant and served as president of the American College of Chest Physicians. Also, I was a visiting professor at many national and international medical schools.

At present I am a Clinical Professor at the University of Arizona where I teach medical students and residents and participate in clinical research projects. I am currently working on a book tentatively entitled “Cracking Chests”, written for the general reader, which will contain stories of  fascinating and idiosyncratic pioneering surgeons and their development of surgery for diseases of the chest, set in the context of their times and cultures which were not always supportive.

Please consider following my blog here on my website.