Differently driven.

After college, many people find themselves at a crossroads where they must decide a future course. Jim wasn’t any different. The choices that lay in front of him, however, were a little different: should he go to medical school or should he join his high school buddies and enter the world of professional auto racing?

Although a former regional Go-Kart champion, Jim chose medical school. “By doing so, I missed out on possible fame and fortune,” Jim explains. “One of my buddies went on to finish third in the Indy 500, and he’s now enjoying millions.”

Money, though, has never been a big motivating factor for Jim. When he finished his residency, he and a friend decided they weren’t going to be like everyone else. They packed their gear and went backpacking through Asia, Australia and New Zealand for eight months.

“People in the medical community said that we were crazy — that we’d end up poor and derail our careers,” recalls Jim. “But that didn’t worry me. I knew that I could always make my own way and that with every new experience, new doors open.”

Jim returned from his trip and returned to medicine. He is currently employed as an emergency medicine physician, affiliated with two different civilian hospitals. Jim also serves in the same capacity in the Navy Reserve. Like his decision to go backpacking, joining the Navy Reserve was also met with cynicism and skepticism by some people.

“Certain people would ask me why I was in the Reserve,” Jim recalls. “They would look at it from a monetary standpoint and say there’s really no reason for doing it. What they don’t get is that the rewards aren’t necessarily monetary. The rewarding part is giving back to your community, your country and, most importantly, as a doctor to the people who are willing to fight and go to war for it.”

Public service has become very important to Jim. He plans to continue his service with the Navy Reserve. He also plans to serve his country in a far different capacity some day — as a congressman or senator. “I think that anyone who runs for office, even if it’s the local school board, should have served in the military.”

Jim’s current service takes him to military hospitals around the country and around the world. “A great aspect about being an emergency medicine physician in the Reserve is that I’m on flex-drill, which means that I group all my drill time together. That way, there really is no huge burden or interruption to my life or career.” Jim’s duties routinely take him to New York City, and he’s traveled as far as Japan, Italy and Beijing.

In his free time, Jim likes to run, swim and bike. Soon, he plans to combine all three and enter a local triathlon. Jim is also planning to get his SCCA Racing driver’s license so that he can make the “big jump” from racing 125cc shifter Go-Karts to racing Mazda RX-7s.

Jim lives on the West Coast.