77BS, 80MD
What is your home town?
Cedar Rapids Iowa.
What is your official title?
President, Advanced Dermatology Center, P.C., Rapid City, SD.
Adjunct Clinical Professor Department of Dermatology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Attending Physicians Dermatology Section, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
I had always planned to go to law school until my freshman year of college when my good friend and future roommate was pre-med; this is when I seriously looked at medicine. He is now a district court judge in Des Moines and I went on to pursue my career in medicine.
What interested you to pursue a career in medicine and medical education?
I suspect initially it was to practice clinical medicine and take care of "disease". As I had an opportunity to enter the clinical portion of my training, I came to realize how important it was to not forget that we do care for people and do not just take care of "disease". I was given the opportunity to teach medical students and nurse practitioner students early in my career and continued to teach students and physicians while finishing my training at the University of Iowa.
Please highlight your major career achievements, awards and discoveries.
A career achievement of mine is my 25 years of caring for the people of our region along with the introduction of multiple new treatment modalities to the area such as Mohs surgery for the treatment of skin cancer. I have donated many weeks providing patient care and medical education to physicians in Guatemala and Peru. I was instrumental in starting a Mohs micrographic surgery training program in Lima, Peru. I was awarded the American Academy of Dermatology Leadership Circle for Volunteerism Award in March 2005 in recognition of my work in Central and South America.
Is there a teacher/mentor or University of Iowa College of Medicine faculty member who helped shape your education?
I have been privileged to have a wonderful group of mentors and teachers; far too many to mention individually. Dr. John Strauss invested time and money in my clinical and research training and spent many hours working with me one-on-one to hone my presentation and technical writing skills. Drs. George Penick and Elliott Foucar in the Department of Pathology, Drs. William Panje and Robert Bumsted in Otolaryngology and Dr. Richard Anderson in Oculoplastic Surgery were instrumental in my acquisition of additional skills in their respective areas of expertise.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa for your education and medical training?
Since I attended the University of Iowa for my undergraduate education, I was very familiar with the University of Iowa College of Medicine. It was an excellent value since I was a state resident. It was only later after starting as a medical student that I came to appreciate the high quality of the educational experience both as a medical student and resident at the University of Iowa.
What kind of professional opportunities or advantages has your University of Iowa medical training provided?
I obtained a fantastic clinical education while a medical student and resident. Through my clinical research, attendance and presentations at national meetings, I was able to develop relationships with the "best of the best" in many subspecialty areas that I continue to use as clinical resources to this day.
Please describe your professional interest.
Professionally, I am interested in Clinical Dermatology, Mohs micrographic surgery, clinical teaching.
What are some of my outside interests?
Aviation: I am a flight instructor and air transport rated pilot. I also have interests in the martial arts (Jiujitsu and Kempo) and have co-authored an instruction manual in Jiujitsu. I have been active in law enforcement for 20 years and work part-time as a deputy sheriff.
Do you have an insider philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
Treat every patient the way you would want your own family member to be treated.
If you could change one thing about the health care system of the United States, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about the health care system it would be to decrease governmental interference and the Federal Health Care Bureaucracy.
What is the biggest change you have experienced in medicine since you were a student?
Ever increasing Federal Government intrusion into the practice of medicine which is unnecessarily increased the cost of patient care.
What one piece of advice would you give to today's medical students?
Work hard to perfect your skills, put the patient first, and find an area of medicine that you can practice with passion and dedication.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
I see the future of medicine as a continued need for competent compassionate clinicians who are able to optimize patient care in an environment of ever decreasing resources and increasing regulatory interference.