The passing of a life long mentor was a catalyst to my professional career as a perfusionist. Heart disease took my father, and best friend, too early.  Perfusion presented itself to me as a way to help patients and their families fight back and win the battle against heart disease.  Following my undergraduate studies and perfusion training program at the University of Iowa, I practiced as a staff perfusionist in Wichita, Kansas.  I was then asked, and gladly accepted the offer, to start a new perfusion program within a new open heart program in Liberty, Missouri.  My wife, Leigh Ann, is the Lead CV PA for the hospital where I am contracted by HEME Management to provide perfusion services.  We have beautiful twin daughters, Piper and Miranda.