Where you work:
My current job is with the Iowa Department of Corrections. I was a hospital based psychiatrist for 25 years prior to Correctional Psychiatry. Currently, I serve as the Heath Services Administrator. I oversee the medical, mental health, dental, and optometry services at all nine Iowa prisons. We offer services to 8000 incarcerated individuals.
Typical day in your shoes?
A typical day is attending a lot of meetings, driving to various institutions (thousands of miles a month), giving lectures and meeting with healthcare providers to discuss cases and quality improvement.
What’s your favorite part of being a psychiatrist?
My favorite part is simple: the healing process. Giving hope to many who can be hopeless. Doing this through education, support, and psychiatric intervention is a great reward.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever heard?
On a chaotic, frustrating day, only focus on the lowest hanging fruit, the rest will be there tomorrow.
Favorite vacation experience/destination:
Peru. We took a great vacation boating down the Amazon then hiking in the Andes to Machu Picchu. Wonderful journey.
If you could sit next to anyone on a plane, who would you choose?
May I choose two? Lewis and Clark. I’ve been a real history buff for years in regards to their journey which was so incredible.
Favorite TV show:
Breaking Bad. So disturbing but I couldn’t stop watching.
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
Coming home to Peggy, my wife of 35 years and my Labradoodle Hank…and sometimes a vodka tonic with lemon!
