Why did you choose the field of medicine and this particular specialty?

What special interests do you have that you are comfortable sharing?

What do you like best about caring for patients and what is your patient care philosophy?

Do you live locally? Where and please let us know if you have a family and their names.

What is success for you and your patients?

What is attractive to you about being a part of the Baystate Franklin community?

Why did you choose the field of medicine and this particular specialty?

I have always been interested in medicine but decided to pursue it as a career while living in Sierra Leone, West Africa. I saw that even basic medical care would have improved the people lives. I decided that I wanted to have a skill with which I can fully contribute to my community. 

I started thinking about sports medicine when my wife said in passing "wouldn't it be great if there was a way to combine your two passions: medicine and athletics". It just clicked at that moment and I never looked back.

 

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What special interests do you have that you are comfortable sharing?

I have traveled extensively, living in Kenya and Sierra Leone and spending time in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, Spain, Ireland, Mexico, Puerto Rico among others. I love traveling and want to give my daughters my passion for travel and adventuring.

 

I spent my 19th birthday on the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

 

I am passionate about music and play multiple instruments: Guitar, irish accordion, dobro. 

 

Before starting in medicine I was a timber frame carpenter and still love building and woodworking.

 

Sports are an integral part of my life. I have bicycle raced for the past 10 years. I am play hockey regularly, participate in triathlons, marathons, jujitsu, rock climbing, hiking, cross-country skiing. Sports medicine is just an extension of this. I have been hurt so many times I feel I can empathize with more patients who come to see me.

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What do you like best about caring for patients and what is your patient care philosophy?

It is an honor to be a doctor. I am allowed in to people's lives in such an personal way. In the ER I was allowed to be a part of pivotal and often hard experiences in my patients lives. In Sports Medicine I get to help people do what they love to do. I get to see their passion and dedication. Seeing the smile on someone's face who has been able to get back to their sport after an injury is a gift.

 

I work to help my patients health themselves. It is important to meet my patients where they are, to understand what they need and expect. I give them a lot of responsibility in their healing process.

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Do you live locally? Where and please let us know if you have a family and their names.

I have lived in Northampton for the past 10 years. I am married to Alisa Greenbacher and the father to Bella 8 and Annika (Anni) 3. We also have a Golden Retriever puppy named Buddy. 

 

I am originally from Minneapolis.

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What is success for you and your patients?

I feel successful when my patients feel like they are talking to a friend, when they feel they have been heard and understood. I feel successful when I can start my patients on the path of healing and when I am able to help them realize their goals. I feel successful when I can help the people I work with, when I can make their job a bit easier.

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What is attractive to you about being a part of the Baystate Franklin community?

BFMC is a growing, dynamic, supportive medical center. There have been so many positive changes in the last 10 years. It has become something that we can be very proud of as a medical center and as a community. BFMC is a commitment to the community. The administration is responsive to the staff and are working to make BFMC the best community medical center in the region.

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