Describe an experience that helped form you as an educator.
When I was a pathology resident, we assisted students with looking at glass slides of diseases. A small group of students asked me to help them on a Saturday and they really enjoyed it. Word traveled fast and the next thing you know I am giving slide reviews for the entire class via a nine-headed microscope we had in the lab. That’s when I realized that I could be an educator. I come from a family of educators so I guess it was only a matter of time.
How did you become convinced that you should come to AUC?
I was visiting faculty at AUC, starting about a year and a half before I became full-time faculty. It was after about the third time I came in that capacity that my family and I thought about being at AUC full time. I also got very good evaluations from the students so the dean at that time and Dr. Susan DeMesquita encouraged me to come.
What is your favorite thing about teaching at AUC?
I love the eagerness of the students to learn and the family atmosphere on the campus.
What are some of your favorite things about Sint Maarten?
I love that there are so many nationalities here with people of all races and colors living in harmony. I love the warm weather, beaches, food, and the close proximity of things.
What is an underappreciated aspect of life at AUC?
We nurture our students to the extent that we get to know them by name.
How would you like for students to describe you years from now?
I would like to be described as a charismatic, engaging teacher who showed love and caring for his students by being a student advocate and advisor.
What makes you look forward to the start of a new semester?
I get to teach a new group of students as well as teach the previous students new material.
What’s something that not many people know about you or that your students would be surprised to learn about you?
I am the oldest of three and both of my siblings are physicians as well. My father had a PhD in Theology and my mother is a retired senior national sales director of Mary Kay cosmetics.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy being a family man. I also like to play sports like basketball and softball.
What would you be doing if you hadn’t gone into medical education?
I would’ve become an electrical or chemical engineer. I love math and science!
