Naftanel started diving at age nine with the Texas Diving Club in Austin. After winning two state high school diving titles hebecame the most decorated individual athlete in Texas A&M history, winning eight Big XII titles, seven all-American citations and represented the United States on the national team. After graduating summa cum laude from A&M in 1999, Naftanel returned to Austin to train with Matt Scoggin at the University of Texas through the 2000 Olympic Trials. He then continued his education at Duke University Medical School. Soon after graduating from Duke, he married his medical school classmate, Nadia Robertson. Naftanel completed his dermatology residency at the University of Michigan in 2009, serving as chief resident in his final year. He is currently a practicing Dermatologist, having served as Chief of Dermatology in Virginia for seven years. The Naftanel’s have three children: Ella, Miles, and Carter.