While caring for patients and helping them regain mobility is my professional passion, life outside the operating room is equally important to me. I believe that balance, purpose, and connection to nature help shape the same patience and dedication I bring to every patient I treat.

One of my favorite pursuits is beekeeping. Through my “Doctor’s Orders” honey brand, I maintain hives on beautiful St. Simons Island, Georgia. The bees produce a distinctive organic honey influenced by the island’s native palmettos and coastal marsh flowers, creating a flavor that reflects the unique character of Georgia’s Golden Isles. Beekeeping has taught me the value of stewardship, attention to detail, and respect for the natural world—qualities that also guide my approach to medicine.

I am also an avid golfer and enjoy the challenge of continually improving my game. Playing to a four handicap, I appreciate the discipline, focus, and precision that golf demands, many of the same principles that are essential in orthopedic spine surgery.

When I am not in the clinic, operating room, on the golf course, or tending to my bees, you’ll often find me on the water. I have a lifelong love of fishing, whether it’s pursuing redfish and trout along the Georgia coast or spending a peaceful day bass fishing on a freshwater lake.

Perhaps my favorite place to recharge is in the mountains. I am especially drawn to mountain lakes, where the combination of natural beauty, solitude, and adventure provides a welcome contrast to the demands of a busy surgical practice. Time spent in these settings reminds me of the importance of perspective, gratitude, and enjoying life’s simple moments.

Whether caring for patients, harvesting honey, casting a fishing line, or exploring a mountain lake, I am guided by a commitment to excellence, lifelong learning, and an appreciation for the outdoors. These passions help keep me grounded and reinforce the values I strive to bring to every patient interaction at Topp Spine & Orthopaedics.