What is your hometown?
Joseph City, Arizona
When did you join the UI faculty?
July, 2003
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
I always enjoyed biological sciences. I was raised with horses and cattle so my first interest was veterinary medicine, but I did not want to deal with small pets and their owners. I thought working with human patients would be more rewarding. My interest in science was first nurtured doing immunology research as an undergrad.
What interested you to pursue a career in medicine?
The opportunity to use skills to benefit others and the opportunity for life-long learning and basic research.
Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?
Cesar Fernandez (Univ of Chicago) is an exceptional auditory and vestibular neuroanatomist and neurophysiologist as well as excellent clinician. He had a passion for basic research and could see the relevance of his work to improve patient care.
How or why did you choose the UI?
I saw an outstanding department with commitment to excellence and the opportunity to deliver state of the art medical/surgical care and translate basic research into patient care. There is great support for basic research efforts here and the Iowa City area is a wonderful place to raise family.
What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at Iowa provide?
Being the only major tertiary care hospital in the state it offers access to a wide diversity of clinical/surgical problems. Patients recognize the value of the College and University Hospitals and are appreciative of care.
What about challenges?
The biggest challenge is recruiting students, residents, faculty from the coasts to live in Iowa.
Please describe your professional interests.
My main clinical focus is ear and skull base surgery and my basic research centers around nerve regeneration and regulation of schwannoma growth.
What are some of your outside interests?
My family, sports, outdoor activities, and church
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
Spend your energy to discover and pursue what is true and right rather than what will pay.
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?
More efficient and equitable distribution of health care resources.
What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student?
The dramatic improvement in patient performance with cochlear implants.
What one piece of advice you would give to today's students?
Being a medical student is a privilege. Your colleagues, family, patients and society place great trust in you. Strive to live a life worthy of that trust.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
We’ll see an improved ability to prevent disease. This will involve modification of molecular, personal, and societal behavior.
In what ways are you engaged with the greater Iowa public?
I teach a course at Kirkwood Community College, give lectures to physicians throughout Iowa (Des Moines and Sioux City), and have been a high school science project sponsor and judge.