May 8, 2007
What is your hometown?
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
When did you join the UI faculty?
June 2003
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
My father was a rural, solo internist in a practice that emphasized geriatrics. I was greatly influenced by his motivation and success as he provided primary care to a vulnerable population. And he took me on house calls.
What interested you to pursue a career in pathology?
Pathology is unexpectedly similar to primary care specialties and gives one a “generalist” view of human disease. This broad and systematic approach to disease – coupled with the manual and visual activities of anatomic pathology – stimulated my interest in pathology.
Locum tenens experiences during pathology residency vividly demonstrated the public health role of forensic pathology as a niche area in pathology. I pursued fellowship training in that subspecialty area.
Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?
There were several forensic pathology mentors in large and small medical examiner offices. Each accomplished a blend of service work, education and research, and each was ultimately driven by engagement in public health.
How or why did you choose the UI?
We found each other. The Dept. of Pathology wanted to enhance forensic pathology education and practice at UI. I was looking for an academic autopsy/forensic pathology practice in a Midwestern university hospital.
What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
Our UIHC staff and faculty have extremely diverse talent and a willingness to share resources and experience. This is fertile ground for professional growth. Such breadth is also challenging for faculty and staff because UIHC has moved beyond the intimacy of a small medical center.
Please describe your professional interests.
The autopsy as a medical/surgical procedure has a central place in the history of western medicine. My primary professional interest is in maintaining the clinical relevance of the old-fashioned autopsy in this modern era of high technology (yet fallible!) diagnostic procedures.
What are some of your outside interests?
I am a student of classical mandolin.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
Patients at UIHC provide numerous teaching opportunities during life. I strongly believe that patients may continue this gift of education after death, hence my enthusiasm for an active, visible, education-oriented autopsy service.
What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student?
Molecular (DNA) studies are now of great utility in some newly identified diseases and in the investigation of some suspicious deaths.
What one piece of advice you would give to today's students?
Enjoy medicine as a rewarding career; avoid the temptation to be consumed by medicine as a rewarding career.
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.)?
I give periodic lectures that demystify forensic pathology and medical examiner death investigation activities. CSI is fiction.
A more substantive engagement is unrecognized by the greater Iowa public yet is an extremely satisfying part of my job at UIHC. Medical examiners in Iowa work closely with the Iowa Donor Network to facilitate the process of organ and tissue recovery for transplantation; the majority of potential donors are in the medical examiner jurisdiction. As a medical examiner and autopsy pathologist, I have complimentary responsibilities to allow and promote optimal organ/tissue procurement and ensure optimal autopsy practice as part of the investigation of a traumatic death. Almost every time, we can collaborate for excellence in both activities. This collaboration results in many lives enhanced or saved through tissue and organ transplantation.