Living the Life With Dr. Jim:
A Bit About Who I Am

I originally started college as an engineering student. As a junior, it became clear I was more suited to the healing arts. I had always been close friends with our family dentist who suggested I should think about dentistry following my graduation. I applied to 6 different dental schools and was accepted at 4 of them. I chose the University of Nebraska as I was most impressed with the brand new campus they had just completed.

Following my graduation from the University Nebraska, I started a general dental practice which I enjoyed for over 15 years. During that time, I had a keen interest in temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain. While going through a divorce, I decided it would be a good time to pursue what had become a new goal, a medical degree. I am now married to a wonderful woman whom I met at University Hospital when I was the director of the Orofacial Pain Clinic at the University of Colorado. Darlene was the nurse manager of the burn unit there. She has since gone on to get her WOCN certification and is currently an independent consultant and also functions as the director of the inpatient unit at Mt. San Rafael Hospital in Trinidad, CO.

While in a family practice residency, I realized the area of pain management was greatly underserved. This also went back to my interest in orofacial pain and headache management. My focus shifted to pain management and I was able to become a diplomate in the American Academy of Orofacial Pain and also the American Academy of Pain Management.

Since that time, I have limited my practice to pain management. Helping patients deal with chronic pain issues has been a most rewarding career. It has also given me a window into my own soul and helped me clarify my life goals as well as align my internal compass. At the present, I spend very little time in patient care and more time writing about health-related issues. I also enjoy investigating the repurposing of older drugs and treatments as an aid in treating chronic pain. Along the way I also got a culinary arts degree and enjoy teaching cooking classes and entertaining guests in our home.