What is your hometown? 

Minneapolis, Minnesota

When did you join the UI faculty?

1993

How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?

My interest in science began in junior high when I had an enthusiastic science teacher who liked to perform experiments in front of the class and explain scientific principles.  My interest was advanced by high school biology classes.  I was very enthusiastic about laboratory dissections and systems biology. 

What interested you to pursue a career in anesthesia?

I completed a Ph.D. in neuroscience and cardiovascular pharmacology. During my postdoctoral fellowship I developed a background in pain mechanisms and research. This combination of cardiovascular physiology and pain physiology was a perfect fit for anesthesia.

Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?

I have had many teachers and mentors who helped shape my career.  From my Ph.D. advisor, J.R. Haywood to my mentors at Iowa, Jerry Gebhart, Ph.D., and Mike Todd, M.D.

How or why did you choose the University of Iowa?

I chose the University of Iowa for its reputation for academic excellence and  outstanding hospital. The anesthesia department is truly an academic department.  Add to that the mentorship at the University of Iowa and the outstanding community and this was easily my first choice, and I think the only medical center that fit all of these criteria.

What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at Iowa provide? 

I think my greatest advantage is the opportunity to participate in outstanding patient care at an institution that also has great appreciation for research in a collaborative environment.

What about challenges?

For any academic physician who participates in patient care and research, and takes advantage of all of the opportunities at Iowa, it can at times leave one overextended. 

Please describe your professional interests.

I’m enthusiastic about both patient care and research.  When I came to the University of Iowa, I chose to develop a new area of translational research, and that was trying to understand mechanisms of postoperative pain. I tried to understand why incisions were so painful for patients. At the same time, I recognized that both the department and the hospital needed an acute postoperative pain service.  I really have a passion for understanding postoperative pain, both from a scientific perspective and a patient care perspective.  I’m driven by the notion that in perioperative medicine, our goal ought to be to make surgery nearly a painless process.  Our current armamentarium of treatments for postoperative pain is severely limited.  In part because of our research, there is an increasing interest in industry to develop drugs for the specific use for patients in postoperative pain management.  It is our hope that this effort will advance patient care in the very near future and lead to the goal of the nearly painless or pain free surgery.

What are some of your outside interests?

My outside interests are family, travel, and exercise.

Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work? 

When assigned clinical duties put 100% effort into patient care. When the opportunity arises to pursue additional scholarly activity, find a passion- whether it be teaching, administrative or research.  Advance your specialty with your passion.  If possible, combine your patient care with your research.  Look for opportunities to advance your specialty.

If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be? 

I hope that in the future, medicine develops a greater emphasis on asking why we are presented with disease and what can we do to prevent or manage disease perhaps based on etiology. 

What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student? 

I think anesthesia is further subspecializing and requires greater focus using practitioners with greater areas of emphasis, rather than the multispecialist who manages most types of surgeries in the operating room as well as contributing to activities outside of the operating room. Today, more anesthesiologists emphasize one area of specialization like intensive care, pain management, pediatric anesthesia, etc.

What one piece of advice would you give to today's students? 

Become a great clinician.  Recognize the significant problems with patient care and find in that realm what you are passionate about. Use that as an opportunity to advance patient care and your specialty.

What do you see as "the future" of medicine? 

I would like to see less of a symptom management approach to patient care, and see treatment based on etiology and preventing the development of disease.

In what ways are you engaged with the greater Iowa public (i.e. population based research, mentoring high school students, sharing your leadership/expertise with organizations or causes, speaking engagements off campus, etc.)? 

My wife and I have been heavily involved in the Iowa City community. When our children were younger we participated in their activities like Cub Scouts and coaching sports like hockey. Currently we serve the Iowa City Public School District in a variety of capacities.