Steve graduated from Kansas State University in 1988.
He did an internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky after which he attended The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine to complete a surgery residency. Steve became a diplomat in the College of Veterinary Surgeons and in the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (equine specialty) in 1993. At that time Steve moved back to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital to become a staff surgeon and in 1996 became a partner. In 1998 he moved to Pioneer Equine Hospital in Oakdale, California as a staff surgeon.
In 2002 Steve became an independent contractor continuing to do surgery, lameness evaluations, and diagnostic imaging, especially yearling sales radiographs. Steve has been involved in yearling, weanling, and ready to run sales for 20 years and has been involved in the development of the repository systems at Keenland, Fasig-Tipton, New Zealand Bloodstock, Inglis and Magic Millions. Steve has been a consultant and friend of Scone Equine Hospital since 2003.