159. With the Best Spinal Techniques, He Opts for Least Invasive

“The earliest memories I have about my formation and guidance are of my Dad tucking me into bed, saying prayers, and every single night telling me, ‘You can do anything you want in your life.’ I remember him for the ways I was gently pushed along the way.”

In third grade, Stephen mustered the courage to ask his teacher if he could be moved into the advanced class. “For some reason I really wanted to. That was a major turning point. I was challenged academically more than I’d ever been, I remember feeling that the lights had come on.”

“It’s important to gather mentors who can guide you, and surround yourself with a community that can help you along the way through the darkest times. Being a person who helps others, you build up your community, and everyone benefits.”

“The Bible was the one that gave me the foundation of love, hard work and perseverance through adversity that helped me along the way, probably the first thing that gave me these notions.”

“Without the Internet I couldn’t do my job as efficiently as I do it. For everything from looking at patient films, MRIs and CAT scans, to the electronic health record that we’re using nowadays to share patient data with other physicians, to email communications and text. You name it. I don’t carry a pen or paper anymore because of the advances in technology.”