Born and raised in San Diego, CA in the late 1950’s. As a child attended Catholic school, played sports, was in the Boy Scouts and raise by a Swiss German family.

Worked at a younger age as a cook, nursey delivery and cross-country semi tractor-trailer driver. I attended community college and earned an AA degree with honors in music compensation and studied jazz guitar at GIT (guitar institute of technology).

I joined the military and was assigned to the California (ANG) Air National Guard as combat aircrew technician trained to assist with the care and transportation of patients worldwide. I advanced to the position on Flight Nurse after 10 years having earned my title as RN (registered nurse). While promoted to Senior Flight Nurse instructor, I flew 1,000+ hours on many medical missions into hostile environments.

I have served in many hospitals with 20+ years of experience in Operation Room as team leader, preceptor and RNFA (registered nurse first assistant). While working as a Gastroenterology nurse I earned my family nurse practitioner (FNP) and MSN. I was activated by the USAF to serve in an air clinic completing physical exams, supporting more than 12 MD’s and surgical team leaders.

I have retired from my hospital active staff position and the military after 36 years. I have continued working in the medical field as an adjunct Professor at APU (Azusa Pacific University) teaching periop 101. I am seeing homeless and low-income patients in clinics and assisting Maxillofacial surgeons in foreign countries to complete cleft palate and lip repairs.

In the community I serve in the church Bereavement Ministry group, I serve as boy scout assistant master working as a first aid and rock-climbing instructor. I am active in AORN as chapter board member, secretary, with a history of chapter president, vice president and committee positions.