Tell Us About Yourself

I currently live in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and have been married to my beautiful wife, Anne, for 27 years and together we have three wonderful daughters, Hannah, Sarah, and Laura. At the age of 10, my family moved from Puerto Rico to Orlando so that I could receive an education while pursuing my dream. The first to graduate from college in my family, I attribute my success to my parents’ sacrifices. In 1991, I graduated as a physical therapist and set my mind to positively impact the lives of patients, especially those who were previously told there was no hope.

In 2005, we moved to a rural area in Louisiana to be closer to family and focus on raising our daughters. It was here that I felt my vocation to do what I had set my mind to do many years prior. I wanted to make a positive impact in communities that lacked resources, needed care, and experienced poor outcomes. In looking back, this has been a humbling experience for me. Never in a million years did I fathom I would be a part of what has been accomplished to date.

What was your path to wound care?

As a new therapist working in a 1000-bed hospital system, I was frustrated when seeing wounded patients lose their limbs, and I wanted to do something about it. At the time, wound care education was scarce for my profession.

In 1994, as a personal goal, I decided to strengthen my faith. This is also when I began working as a traveling therapist. It was during this period that I came across the most wonderful educator and wound care therapist, Joy Rohan, PT. Joy devoted her time to giving me a solid knowledge base that served as the foundation for what would become my passion.

It was no coincidence that during this time of soul searching and reading God’s word that I began seeing how wounds can heal when treated timely and properly. This changed not only my life but also the lives of those my hands touched.

What’s the most challenge part of your job?

The most challenging part of my job is not having enough hours in a day to accomplish everything I want to do. I continue to struggle with balancing my work with my personal life, which are often one in the same.

How are you helping to change the field of wound care?

I have been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time with the right people. I have spent countless hours learning, volunteering, and guiding others since graduation with no expectation of anything in return. This has allowed me to start programs to educate others at various levels and change the wound care practice/behavior in a positive way.

What does being a Difference Maker mean to you?

Difference Makers are those who are willing—at all cost—to make a difference in something they passionately believe in while knowing that there’s equal opportunity for success or failure. Learning from your successes and failures, especially failures, allows one to make a difference.

What advice would you give someone pursuing wound care?

My advice for a new clinician would be to be a patient advocate while always pursuing educational opportunities. Being a patient advocate is not easy, but it’s so important. Also, search out a mentor to assist you in navigating this continuously changing field. Drawing on your knowledge and past successful experiences can help you be the catalyst for change that others need.

Tell us a story that reminds you why you pursued your career?

When it comes to wound care in a small rural community, you may only have one chance to get it right. In my community, I often run into patients and their families everywhere I go. Seeing that these patients have healed and are now out and about in the community is gratifying. A grandfather being able to attend his grandchild’s basketball games, a mother seeing her kids graduate from school, and a father having the ability to provide for his family’s needs are all real-life reminders of why I go in to work every single day.

What’s something innovative you’ve done to advance the field of wound care?

There are definitely too many passionate projects to list, but I’m working to continuously surround myself with passionate wound care professionals, close friends, and mentors such as Dr. Caroline Fife, Karen Lou Kennedy-Evans, Dr. Mark Melin, Dot Weir, Dr. Heather Hettrick, Elizabeth Faust, and many others, who continue to motivate me. I am so thankful and grateful for each of them, as they have helped me with not only work issues, but with struggles in my life throughout my career.