Where I've Been
-More or Less-

• 1960, Fairbanks Alaska.

  • Live birth. Fairly competitive APGAR scores

• 1961/62, Unalakleet Native Village, Norton Sound, Bering Sea

  • Parents taught grade school

• 1964-1968, Las Vegas, New Mexico then Tonawanda, New York

  • Dad in Graduate School

• 1969-1976, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • "Grew up" here

• 1977-1978, Long Lake, Minnesota

  • Finished high school -- Dad asked “What do you want in life?” I answered “I never want to be bored again” he responded “Be careful what you ask for.”

• 1978-1985, University of Minnesota

  • Engineering, Biology, Literature, Medical History

  • Multiple jobs to pay for school; Iron worker, Mississippi riverboat deckhand, Painting Contractor...

• 1987-1992, University of Minnesota Medical School and Heart Research Fellowship

• 1991, Brother Vincent diagnosed with Glioblastoma

  • He asked his Neurosurgeon how long do I have. Answer "About 3 months." Vince looks at me and brother Johnny "Well, that's the last time I ask this asshole anything." The neurosurgeon follows with "You should quit smoking," to which Vince responds "Why doc, afraid I'm going to die of lung cancer?" Over time, Vincent and surgeon become friends.

  • Vincent was a member of the IBEW, but his health insurance ran out; a rep from the electrician union shows up at the house and tells Vince that the union voted to continue his insurance, indefintely.

  • I become a lifelong proponent of national healthcare

• 1992-1997, Surgical Residency, University of Chicago

  • Learned surgery, occasionally saw sunlight; limits on hours resident can be required to work are not yet established

• 1995, Joined the US Army Reserve Medical Corps

  • Goal: give a little back

• 1997, Newport Beach, California, Started surgery practice

• 1997-1999, Started Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach

  • Not well-received, eventually opinions changed

• 1998, Vince dies of glioblastoma, made it almost 7 years

• 2000, Started Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery Program, Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach

  • Not well-received, eventually opinions changed

• 2001, September 11, Terrorist attack on World Trade Center

• 2001, September 26, Daughter Brianna Born

  • The most beautiful thing I've ever seen

• 2001, December, Brianna diagnosed with Severe Epilepsy

  • 300 seizures/day at first, requires phenobarbital coma to stop

• 2001-4, Travel the country looking for a cure for Brianna, No cure

  • No cause ever identified. Not candidate for experimental surgery, Multiple medications

  • Brianna admitted to ER, hospital, ICU numerous times

  • A lot of experience with medical error, seen from the patient perspective

• 2002, Spokesperson for the Lap-Band company, Inamed.

  • The band is a good procedure, but my main procedure always remains Gastric Bypass

• 2002, Orders to report for active duty, Army Medical Corps

  • Commanding Officer believes Brianna will die if I leave

    • Puts me in for an honorable discharge (not my idea, but certainly appreciated, amazing compassion)

• 2005, Start private bariatric training fellowship

  • Closed down in 5 years -- general surgery residency graduates no longer seem prepared to enter practice

• 2005-2019, Grow surgical practice to over 5 physicians and 30 employees

  • Developed 4 bariatric surgery Centers of Excellence

• 2020, January, Open a cash-only, bariatric surgery solo practice in Newport Beach

  • Bad timing, coincides with Covid pandemic, closed down by Governor decree, or something like that

• 2019-2022, "Free time" due to Covid shutdowns

  • Complete 3 weight loss books

  • Develop the 3 SLIMMS procedures

    • All 3 procedures safe and effective

• 2023, Re-write "Permanent Surgical Weight Loss" and other books

• Current project, Converting to a SLIMMS-focused business

​