He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and his medical degree from the University of Illinois-Rockford. He completed additional training in internal medicine (primary care), geriatrics, and clinical research at UCSF as well as training in healthcare quality from the San Francisco Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Medical Center. His clinical work is concentrated at the San Francisco VA, where he sees patients on the palliative care service as well as inpatient medicine service. In addition to his clinical work, he co-leads the VA Quality Scholars fellowship at the San Francisco VA, mentors trainees in clinical research, and has an active program of National Institutes of Health (NIH)/VA-funded clinical research.