What is your background?

I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Bradley University in Peoria, IL. I obtained my MD from University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria in 2018. I graduated first in my medical school class with honors and was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha my M3 year. I completed an Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI in 2023. 

What is your interest in aerospace medicine and surgery?

I have been interested in space and space exploration since I was a child. Regarding Aerospace Medicine and Surgery, I am particularly interested in establishing a "new normal" for human physiology in extended duration space missions and how humans adapt both in the short term and long term to microgravity environments. Additionally, as space is a low resource environment by definition, I am interested in honing medical skills and adapting procedures for austere environments; reducing waste and using ingenuity to overcome resource limitations. Finally, I want to bring feasible surgical and procedural care to the space environment, as this will be required if humans are to leave Earth permanently. 

What are your hobbies/interests outside of medicine?

I earned my private pilot certificate in 2021 and enjoy flying around the countryside in my free time. I also enjoy video games and virtual reality, hiking, camping, and Renaissance Faires.