Dr. Thrift graduated from ASU with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. Prior to attending medical school he was manager of Terros, Inc. a drug crisis center. Dr. Thrift attended Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara and received his medical degree from the University of Arizona.

He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital and is Board Certified and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Thrift is currently in family practice in Prescott, AZ.

Dr. Thrift has served as the past chairman of the Family Medicine Department and the Physician’s Wellbeing Committee at Yavapai Regional Medical Center and served on the hospital board of trustees finance committee for 17 years. He has also served as medical director for the emergency department, the president of the Emergency Physicians group at YRMC, the president of the local AHCCCS plan and is the past chairman and current Board member of the Yavapai Board of Health. He is past president of the Yavapai Medical Society and the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians

Dr. Thrift is currently on the Board of the Yavapai Community Health Clinic and Prescott Free Clinic and serves as the treasurer and vice-speaker of Arizona Medical Association and is a member of American Medical Association. He is also the alternate-delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians and a member of American College of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. Thrift also serves on the associate faculty of Family and Community Medicine departments at University of Arizona, College of Medicine and Midwestern Arizona College of Medicine.