Dave grew up in Longview and Seattle. After a year at the University of Washington, he transferred to UPS in Tacoma, from which he graduated with a degree in Psychology. He served as a site director for the Boys & Girls Club of Edmonds, and managed customer accounts for GM NamePlate, a subcontractor for Boeing.

In 2004 he received his Masters Degree in Psychology from George Fox University, and pursued a recording/performing career in Christian Rock music while holding side jobs in home improvement and medical insurance sales. He composed and recorded 2 CDs and toured around the NW before deciding to go into medicine. He then worked as an ER technician and nursing assistant in a nursing home while taking pre-requisite science courses for PA school. In 2009 he graduated with honors from the Physician Assistant program at Emory University in Atlanta and made the move back home.