What is your hometown?
Frankfurt, Germany
When did you join the University of Iowa faculty?
August 2006
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
When I was about 16, a friend suggested that medicine would be a good fit for my science interest and personality. I worked as a nursing aid in a hospital the following summer break. That was it.
What interested you to pursue a career in Cardiology?
I can offer you many reasons; the broad spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic tools, the satisfaction of being able to help patients with acute life-threatening illnesses, the global burden of cardiovascular diseases, etc. Could there be anything more fascinating than this big spontaneously beating muscle that keeps us alive?
Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?
There have been many mentors at all stages from the biology teacher in high school to my present research mentors.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa?
My division has an outstanding track record for developing physician-scientists and the offer I received was very generous and tailored to my needs.
The University of Iowa’s faculty members are united to provide exceptional patient care while advancing innovations in research and medical education. How does your work help translate new discoveries into patient centered care and education?
It is every scientist’s dream to see his or her findings translated into therapy. I have some ideas how my research projects could open new avenues to treat hypertension. At this point, it is certainly too early to know if any of these ideas will ever become reality.
What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at an academic medical center provide?
There is a great breadth of opportunities in different areas from growing our clinical practice to education and mentoring. The greatest challenge for junior faculty like myself is to choose the ones for which I am most suited.
Please describe your professional interests.
I am a vascular biologist. I investigate how smooth muscle cells in the vascular wall contribute to the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Lately, I have become particularly interested in a ubiquitous enzyme that is activated by calcium. It not only fine-tunes the vascular tone, but may also be important for causing smooth muscle cell growth and migration in health and disease. This project has become truly exciting: I find myself thinking about it when I wash up dishes or clear the sidewalk.
Clinically, I am a general cardiologist with a special interest in imaging techniques. You will find me mainly at the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center.
How does working in a collaborative and comprehensive academic medical center benefit your work?
The University of Iowa is well known to be a collaborative and nurturing institution. My work would not be possible without the support and encouragement of others.
What are some of your outside interests?
Traveling, learning languages, cooking, music, yoga, reading and playing with Gorton, the cat.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
I try to involve the patients as much as possible in their care. The more patients and their family members understand about their disease and treatment, the better they become at making good decisions and taking care of themselves.
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?
I grew up with universal health care and trained in two notorious inner-city hospitals in the United States. This answer is very easy; equal and timely access to health care for everybody.
What is the biggest change you’ve experienced in your field since you were a student?
Information technology with its ability to store and transmit enormous amounts of data has transformed the way we conduct research and practice clinical medicine.
What one piece of advice would you give to today’s students?
Be adventurous and strive to find a field that excites you. Medicine has so many opportunities to offer; one of them will be right for you.
What do you see as “the future” of medicine?
The advent of molecular tools for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Medicine will become more individualized.