What is your hometown?

Iowa City, IA

When did you join the UI faculty?

August, 1993

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

I’ve always had an affinity for and an interest in science, and majored in mathematics in college. In college, though, I was initially planning to go to law school, then business school. Before my senior year in college, a light bulb went on and I decided on medical school. I think this represented a realization of my basic abilities and interests.

I remember the actual moment when I decided to attend medical school. In the summer before my senior year of college, I was visiting the research laboratory I had worked in many previous summers. As I was explaining some of my previous work to one of the new graduate students, one of the post-doctoral fellows (who knew I was thinking of a career in business) walked by and remarked, “Still thinking of business school? What a waste.” That moment served as an epiphany, and I decided to apply to medical school shortly after.

What interested you to pursue a career in medicine?

It interested me as a field in which science was applied to aid people.

Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career? Many, including my mother and father (who instilled in me a love of knowledge and creativity), several of my medical school professors (Drs. Rodnitzky, Adams and Graff-Radford come to mind), several from residency (Fred Wooten, my chairman in residency, who taught me patience and leadership; Soo Ik Lee, my EEG mentor, who taught me the value of a rigorous approach to acquiring and applying knowledge; and Fritz Dreifuss, my epilepsy mentor, who taught me the richness and rewards of my chosen sub-specialty). Also, I think of my late senior colleague at Iowa, Richard Fincham, often. He taught me the art of medicine – the value in connecting to each patient on a human level – that not everything we do is grounded in science.

How or why did you choose the UI?

It was a homecoming for me, having been born in this hospital, raised in this town, and educated at this college of medicine. At the right time in my life, I was offered my dream job – to create a comprehensive epilepsy program – in my home town.

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

The advantages include: being able to interact on a daily basis with creative and talented colleagues, in an environment that is highly conducive to collaboration; being able to live in a smaller community that values education, family, and recreation. I don’t think I’ve encountered any challenges specifically unique to Iowa. The biggest challenges in my work life usually revolve around adapting to the rapidly (and sometimes illogical) changing medical and educational landscape.

Please describe your professional interests.

I direct the Iowa Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, and enjoy patient care in the field of epilepsy, reading video-EEG studies, evaluating patients for epilepsy surgery (and rejoicing in their usually good outcome) and working with my many close colleagues. I also direct the Neurology residency program, and enjoy guiding the professional development of the next generation of outstanding Neurologists.

What are some of your outside interests?

Spending time with my family, watching my kids grow up, Hawkeye athletics (especially football), trying to stay reasonably physically fit, home-brewing beer (done less often now, with 2 young kids to chase around).

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

One of my mentors taught me the concept of AQL - A Quiet Life. It means actively avoiding conflict, to seek a path of maximal happiness and productivity.

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

I’d like a solution to the inefficiency created by lack of shared, universal health care information. I spend untold hours each week tracking down (and sometimes never receiving) data that I know exists somewhere else. If I had this at my fingertips when I’m seeing the patient, I’m sure I could deliver better care.

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

A number of better treatment options, resulting in improved quality of life for people with epilepsy.

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

Seek happiness in what you do. If you end most days with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, you’ve chosen your path wisely.

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

I hope medicine is able to tap into vast amounts of data (from the genome of the individual patient, to the epidemiology of large populations of patients) to improve the efficiency of health care delivery, and to improve patient outcomes.

In what ways are you engaged with the greater Iowa public?

I’ve spoken to lay groups in Des Moines and Iowa City, been interviewed on local TV and radio, and served as a mentor to undergraduate students interested in a career in medicine.