I was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. After completing high school, I enrolled in Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. While at Texas A&M I participated in the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets, Fish Camp, Class Council, and many other Memorial Student Center activities. Some of the jobs I had while in College Station included: yogurt server at TCBY, janitor at the Brazos Center, lab technician at the Texas A&M Biology Department, and animal technician at the Texas A&M Veterinary School. I graduated from Texas A&M in 1996, moved back to Corpus Christi and worked with HEB Pharmacy for six months. While at HEB Pharmacy, I applied and was accepted at both the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy and Texas Tech School of Pharmacy. I decided to leave Texas and attend the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy. I also applied and was accepted into the MBA Program at the University of New Mexico School of Business. I graduated with my Pharm.D. and MBA in May 2001. I accepted a Post-Doctoral Industry Fellowship with Bristol-Myers Squibb in Plainsboro, New Jersey serving as a Medical Education Fellow. I was hired as a full-time employee with Bristol-Myers Squibb and stayed for 3 years. I left BMS in 2003 to work for an unnamed biopharmaceutical startup. I left the startup in May 2004 and worked with CVS Pharmacy for the next nine months. I accepted a Regional Scientific Director position with Novartis Pharmaceuticals in New York City in February 2005.