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D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 6
ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY REMAINS A
MALE-DOMINATED FIELD. WHAT'S YOUR
EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE, AND HAS THAT
SHAPED HOW YOU PRACTICE OR HOW YOU
CONNECT WITH PATIENTS?
It's made me adaptable and
very intentional about commu-
nication. I think it's also helped
me connect with patients who
may feel overlooked or intimidated in medical settings. I try to lis-
ten carefully and make sure patients feel heard and respected.
WHAT'S THE MOST TECHNICALLY CHALLENGING OR INTERESTING CASE YOU'VE WORKED ON
RECENTLY (WITHOUT IDENTIFYING DETAILS, OF COURSE)?
Revision shoulder surgery is always intellectually and technically
challenging—especially when prior surgeries, altered anatomy,
and high functional demands are involved. It's a puzzle that re-
quires creativity, planning, and precision.
HOW HAS ORTHOPEDIC SPORTS MEDICINE
CHANGED IN THE FIVE OR TEN YEARS SINCE YOU
STARTED YOUR TRAINING? WHAT'S EXCITING
ABOUT WHERE THE FIELD IS HEADED?
We're much more biologically fo-
cused now—thinking about tissue
quality, healing environments, and
longevity rather than just mechani-
cal fixes. What's exciting is the shift
toward personalized medicine: tailoring treatments to the patient,
not the protocol.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING? HOW DO YOU STAY ACTIVE IN MONTANA?
I spend as much time outside as possible—skiing, hiking, working
out, and keeping up with my two daughters. Montana makes it easy
to stay active, but it also reminds you why protecting your body mat-
ters. Out here, movement isn't optional—it's part of life.
