My early fascination with the functions of the head and neck led me to study linguistics and communication disorders as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, where I became fluent in Spanish and American Sign Language. This interest led me to decide upon dentistry as a career. After graduation from the New York University College of Dentistry, I completed specialty training in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. In late 2000, my wife Barri and I chose Frederick County as our home, where we live with our children, Andie and Adam, our cat, Freddy, and our tortoise, Lucy. I am blessed to have a wonderful family, staff and community.