Additional Description (if available):
Mark received his BA in mathematics at Rockford College in 1980. He then went on to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1981 and enrolled in the College of Electrical Engineering. This wasn*t to his liking as he then transferred to the University of Illinois at Peoria where he received his MD in 1985. He did his internship at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois in 1985 and 1986. He joined Homefirst® in 1986. He became American Board Certified in 1992.
Mark*s involvement in home birth is due to his wife Virginia. “She was inspired to have our third child at home with Homefirst®. After a truly awesome home birth experience, I prayed for God*s direction and joined Homefirst®. At Homefirst® I have been privileged to fulfill my calling; to serve and support families in a practice that places a premium on compassion while delivering high quality care.
After years of practice with Homefirst®, Mark*s philosophy of childbirth has only been confirmed and strengthened. He believes that the home is truly the logical place for birth because it supports the labor process. Mark states, “Childbirth should not be characterized as an illness but as a process for which the body was designed. Moreover, the portability of today*s obstetric technology readily allows the implementation of the current scientific standards in the home setting. Home birth is truly the best of both worlds. It is an optimal birth setting for the woman with complete obstetrical medical support. The greatest benefits of home birth are the hundreds of immeasurable ways in which it strengthens and supports the family and upholds the sanctity of life.”
