Finding Balance in a Busy Life
Life has taken me down many roads—medicine, law, business, and humanitarian work. At times, it’s been intense, with long hours in surgery, running a private practice, building a law firm with my wife, raising children, and traveling overseas for mission work. But through it all, three things have kept me grounded: my love for golf, my personal grit, and my unwavering faith in God.
People often ask me how I manage to juggle so many responsibilities and still find time for myself. The truth is, balance isn’t something that just happens. It’s something you have to work for. It takes discipline, routine, and a clear sense of who you are and what you believe in. For me, those anchors—golf, grit, and God—are what keep me centered no matter what life throws at me.
Golf as Therapy
To many, golf is just a sport. To me, it’s therapy. It’s a place where I can clear my head, breathe deeply, and focus on something simple and peaceful. Whether I’m on the course alone or with friends, it gives me time to slow down and reflect. I’ve had some of my best ideas while walking down the fairway. And on the tougher days, a round of golf has helped me let go of stress that would’ve otherwise followed me home.
Golf teaches patience. It teaches you how to stay calm when things don’t go your way—when the ball lands in the sand trap or just barely misses the hole. That kind of mental focus has helped me in the operating room, in the courtroom, and in life. Golf reminds me that progress isn’t always linear, and that sometimes, the best thing you can do is take a deep breath and swing again.
Grit Through Every Chapter
I didn’t grow up with everything handed to me. I was born in Thomasville, Alabama and raised in Florida in a family of faith and high expectations. My father was a preacher, and my mother was a strong, determined woman. I was the first male among seven siblings, and our household was filled with love, discipline, and high standards. Four of us became valedictorians. We became doctors, lawyers, dentists, and chiropractors. We were taught to never give up, to pursue excellence, and to give back to our community.
That grit stayed with me through medical school at Loma Linda, where I finished in just three years through an accelerated program. It pushed me through a demanding residency in ENT and facial plastic surgery. It helped me build a private practice from the ground up in Orange County. And when I decided to step into the world of law and business, it gave me the confidence to start again—this time co-founding ATR Law Group with my wife.
Grit isn’t about being the toughest person in the room. It’s about being the one who doesn’t quit. It’s about waking up early, working late, and doing the hard things even when no one is watching. It’s about staying true to your purpose, even when the road gets long.
Faith as the Foundation
But beyond all the effort, all the work, and all the goals, my faith in God is what holds everything together. Without Him, none of this would make sense. I was raised in a Christian home, and that spiritual foundation has carried me through every chapter of my life. From the surgical wards in Thailand and the Philippines, to the quiet moments of prayer before big decisions, my relationship with God has been my guide.
Faith has taught me humility. It reminds me that every gift I have—my education, my success, my health—is a blessing, not something to take for granted. It’s also shaped my heart for service. That’s why I founded Global Healing Inc., to bring healthcare to places where it’s desperately needed. It’s why I’ve committed years to working with the Mayne tribe in the Philippines, providing food, shelter, and hope.
Faith is not just about going to church or reading scripture. It’s about how you live. It’s about treating people with kindness, listening when others speak, and using your time and talents to uplift others. It’s about believing in something bigger than yourself and walking with purpose every day.
The Legacy I’m Building
Today, I’m at a place in life where I think more about legacy than titles. I’ve been blessed with a family I’m proud of—my wife, my sons who are pursuing law and medicine, and the generations we hope to inspire. I want to leave behind more than accomplishments. I want to leave behind values. I want my sons to know that success isn’t just measured in dollars or degrees. It’s measured in how you treat people, how hard you work, and how well you walk in faith.
That’s what golf, grit, and God have taught me. Golf gives me peace and perspective. Grit gives me endurance. And God gives me purpose. Together, they’ve helped me navigate life’s challenges and stay grounded, even while reaching higher.
No matter where life takes me next—whether it’s building hospitals through Global Healing, expanding our law firm, or mentoring young people on their paths—I’ll carry these three things with me. Because in the end, they’re not just part of my life. They are my life.