The First Big Build

There’s something about building something with your own hands—or at least your own vision—that leaves a lasting mark on your life. My first big personal project wasn’t a hospital, or even a medical facility. It was my own home. I set out to design and construct a 10,000-square-foot home, and while some people saw it as just a house, to me it was a lesson in patience, vision, and responsibility.

When you start a project of that size, the plans look simple enough on paper. But once the dirt starts moving and the foundation is poured, you realize you’re not just building walls—you’re building a dream. Every detail, from the layout of the rooms to the placement of windows, carries weight. The same way a surgeon approaches an operation with precision, a builder must approach construction with care. In both cases, there’s no room for careless mistakes.

From Homes to Healing Centers

Building a house taught me the basics of construction management, but it also prepared me for something much bigger—constructing medical facilities. After years in practice as an ENT and facial plastic surgeon in Orange County, California, I took on the challenge of building my own surgery center. It wasn’t about prestige or profit. It was about creating a place where patients could receive excellent care in a safe, comfortable environment.

There’s a difference between walking into a pre-existing facility and saying, “This will do,” versus walking into a building you designed from scratch and saying, “This is exactly what I envisioned.” I knew what my patients needed because I had spent years listening to them. That’s what guided my design choices—comfort, privacy, efficiency, and above all, safety.

Lessons in Patience and Persistence

No matter how grand the vision, every building project comes with delays, unexpected problems, and budget challenges. I learned early that you have to adapt quickly. If a shipment of materials doesn’t arrive, you find another supplier. If the weather holds up the work, you adjust the schedule. And if someone tells you your idea isn’t possible, you either find a way to prove them wrong or accept that there’s a better way forward.

This patience and persistence carried over into every area of my life. Whether I was performing delicate surgery, negotiating a business deal, or working on a philanthropic project overseas, I knew that nothing worthwhile gets built in a day. Dreams—whether they’re made of bricks or ideas—take time to stand.

Taking the Vision Global

While building at home was rewarding, I always knew I wanted to take that vision to places that needed it most. My experiences in Thailand and the Cambodian refugee camps during my medical training planted a seed that would grow into Global Healing Inc. This foundation is dedicated to building hospitals and healthcare facilities in underserved communities around the world.

We’ve been planning projects in Laos, Africa, Mexico, and even rural areas of the United States. Each location presents unique challenges—different regulations, cultures, and resources. But the goal is the same: to create a space where people can receive the medical care they deserve.

For me, these projects are more than blueprints and construction timelines. They are symbols of hope. In many of these places, a hospital isn’t just a building—it’s a lifeline. It means mothers can give birth safely. It means infections can be treated before they become deadly. It means lives can be saved.

The Importance of Teamwork

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from building is that no vision comes to life without a team. Architects, engineers, contractors, medical planners—every single person plays a vital role. The same is true in surgery, in running a business, and in philanthropy.

I’ve always tried to surround myself with people who share my values and my commitment to excellence. You can teach skills, but you can’t teach integrity. When you’re building something that matters—whether it’s a home, a hospital, or a business—you need people you can trust, people who take ownership of the mission.

What Building Has Taught Me About Life

Every construction project I’ve been a part of has taught me something about life. First, you have to start with a solid foundation—not just in a building, but in your personal and professional life. If your values aren’t strong, everything you build will eventually crumble.

Second, the details matter. Just like a small leak in a roof can cause major damage over time, small lapses in judgment or effort can derail your biggest dreams. Pay attention to the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves.

Lastly, never forget why you started. When delays pile up and frustrations mount, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. But if your reason for building is strong enough—if it’s rooted in serving others—then you’ll find the strength to keep going.

Even now, I’m still dreaming and building. My current focus is on expanding our Global Healing projects, with the hope of breaking ground on hospitals in several countries over the next few years. I’m also exploring opportunities to partner with other organizations that share the same mission of providing accessible healthcare to those who need it most.

At the same time, I’m mentoring younger leaders and showing them that building something meaningful—whether it’s a career, a family, or a community project—takes vision, faith, and resilience. The tools and materials may change, but the principles remain the same.

The Real Reward

At the end of the day, the most rewarding part of building isn’t standing back and admiring the finished product. It’s seeing people use it. It’s watching families settle into a home they love. It’s seeing a patient walk out of a facility healthier than when they came in. It’s hearing that a hospital you helped build is saving lives every single day.

That’s when you realize that building isn’t really about the walls, the roof, or the floor. It’s about the people whose lives will be changed because you decided to take an idea and turn it into reality. And that’s a lesson worth carrying into every dream, big or small.