Dr. Tochtrop was born and raised in Washington, Missouri, just an hour outside of St. Louis. His education gradually took him westward across the state, completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Missouri - Columbia, and then his medical degree at   Kansas City University. He returned to the St. Louis area to start his residency. He completed his Primary Care Internal Medicine residency at Washington University-Barnes Jewish Hospital.

Dr. Tochtrop's experience at Southampton Healthcare began when he was a 3rd year medical student on his clinical rotations. His time there is what inspired him to pursue primary care medicine, and ignited a passion for LGBTQ and HIV care.