Chief Physician Executive/Chief Medical Officer
Nevada Heart & Vascular Center
Type of Business: Cardiac surgery, Cardiology and Vascular Surgery
Based in: Las Vegas & Pahrump
Hails from: Las Vegas
Years Org. has been in Nevada: 27
Years as an Executive in Nevada: 02
Employees in NV (approx.): 150
How did you get into your profession?
I was exposed at a young age to two family friends who were physicians in the community. They were my role models. In college, I worked for an ambulance company as an EMT-advanced, and I saw my calling first-hand.
Who has been instrumental to your success?
My father always instilled in me that no one is smarter than us, they just work harder. With that kind of thinking, that’s why I was able to do so many different and unique things in my personal and professional life. You just put your head down and keep working through any adversity. You only really need 6.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep to be healthy.
What career advice would you give to someone just starting in your industry?
My professional life has exposed me to three different industries: the health industry, the aviation industry and the gaming industry. On the surface, they appeared dissimilar, but the journey for success is very similar. All three industries have 24-hour responsibilities, and those that put in the time and effort are the most successful.
What is an issue currently facing your industry that an outside observer might not be aware of?
We have a huge “brain drain” in Las Vegas. Our young minds leave the state to get their training, especially in the healthcare industry, and they just don’t come back. Our number of healthcare professionals ranks 49th in the country per-capita.
What would be the title of your autobiography?
“It’s Not Hard; It’s Just Work.”
What is an assumption people make about you that is dead wrong?
A younger person may look at me because I am now old in their eyes. They may think that I don’t understand their views, their actions, their thoughts. What they truly don’t understand is I am the same person inside that I was when I was 22 years of age. Age is just a number.
What do you hope future generations can learn from your professional journey?
Never settle. I always strive to learn something new every day. Whatever industry you’re in, there’s always a chance for learning that will allow you to advance. However, never underestimate the power of hard work. The two go hand-in-hand.
