Continue Reading Below if You Want to Know more about me

PROFESSION

I started my career in health care as a volunteer with the Dante Rescue Squad in June 1981. I'll never forget that first day-I saw a classmate applying for the Castlewood Rescue Squad and decided that might be something I would like to try out. I anxiously went home and asked my parents if I could join the Dante Rescue Squad. As usual, I got the "ask your mom to see what she says, then it was ask your dad to see what he says" run around (but finally it was decided that I could try it out). While applying at the squad, they had a call-and took me along. It was an adventure. I tried to help, closing ambulance doors but poor Charlie's fingers were in the way! I knew then I was off to a bad start. As my interests continued to increase, I was able to hold several positions with the agency, and was actively involved in several milestones (such as the progression of our agency becoming ALS certified, becoming the agencies first National Registered EMT, and so forth). Formerly I served as Captain, 1st Lt. & Supply Lt. (and yes I continue to volunteer with the squad as time allows!)

RN in the Emergency Room at Russell County Medical Center from 1988-2003. (www.chs.net)

Certified Emergency Nurse till 2006 (www.ena.org)

Flight Nurse (CFRN) with Med Flight II from 1994- 2007 (www.wellmont.org)

Med Flight II has a new website. Please feel free to view that link (since I've removed that portion of my website). You can access Med Flight II

More Stuff?

Instructor status in the following courses: BCLS, PHTLS, BTLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, and EMT-Iinstructor. Also, maintain certification as a National Registered Paramedic. Despite the busy medical school curriculum, I've been able to maintain most of my certifications.

Membership organizations include the National Nurses Association, Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA), Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), NAEMT, student organization of ACOFP/ACOEP/SOMA and the Appalachian Volunteer Group (through VCOM).

I was fortunate to receive a scholarship from the American College of OsteopathicFamily Practice (ACOFP) and the Friends of Optometry provided me with a scholarship too. Recently, I received the Dean's Service Award Scholarship (which was really awesome)

Josh Justice & others during CPR training for VCOM

MY GOALS (Residency now)

Started medical school at EVVCOM in August 2003.- I completed medical school with graduation ceremonies held on June 02, 2007. I completed residency interviews and made the decision to follow my heart's guidance-to do Family Medicine in rural communities, with some emergency medicine (possibly a rural EM fellowhip down the road). I started residency June 25, 2007 at ETSU-Bristol's Family Medicine Residency, http://fammed.etsu.edu/?CONTEXT=art&cat=32&art=192

I dont think I would have gotten this far without the support of God, my family, hometown friends, and coworkers. However, I KNOW I couldnt have done it without the support of my classmates like Josh J, Morgan B, Beth G, and many more (especially Josh Justice though-those IHOP nights were killers! Heya Josh, remember the dude who cleaned the bathrooms and cooked? LOL). By the way Josh & Morgan did really well on their written and physical board exams (they rock!). Josh will be doing ophthalmology in Columbus Ohio. Morgan is going to do OB/Gyn in Georgia and Beth will doing IM in Greensboro NC. My friend Bambi is doing ok too (and will do residency on the Eastern Shore of Virginia). The student website is www.vcomstudent.com.

VCOM Day 5/04 Graduation 07

This is a homemade quilt I received as a '07 gift (emblems represent each of my careers)

HOBBIES

Tennis, bowling, swimming, fishing, eating, movies, camping, surfing the net, visiting family/friends (when time allows to do these things) The below picture is John (my older brother-so I tell people) and myself taken 12/25/2004.

I enjoy travelling when time allows (Punta Cana, Myrtle Beach & Anaheim so far 07)

This was my 06/07 trip to California