I am not quite sure why I became a doctor, but I suspect that had to do with a couple of things. I was a sickly child, and my mother had to frequently take me to see the doctor. So, I involuntarily spent a great deal of time among doctors and nurses. The month before I turned 14, my mother died from breast cancer. That could have been the main motivating factor. I try to have a receptive ear, trying to see things from the patient perspective, develop compassion and guide the patient through the process of managing their illness. I recognize that there is a physical, emotional and in many cases, a spiritual dimension that I need to consider. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and four grown sons, reading a variety of topics, following baseball, especially the Red Sox, traveling and listening to NPR.