It all starts with a connection.
Whether it’s physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, cultural, or technological, we are inherently wired to connect with our world and the people around us. We learn and grow so that we may understand each other — and ourselves.
In medicine, human connection is foundational to patients’ experiences, therapies, and outcomes. In a world dominated by algorithms and metrics, human connections still hold value and meaning. This is true in the doctor-patient relationship, but it’s also true in education and research, where mentorship and teamwork can propel learning and discovery.
I note this because building and strengthening connections underscores our mission. Our value, and our credibility, depends on Iowans from all counties and every corner of the state connecting with us and trusting that we can help make their lives and communities better.
This issue of Medicine Iowa spotlights people making connections that make a difference. You’ll read about our cancer researchers and clinicians who are leading the world in studying new, targeted treatments for neuroendocrine tumors. You’ll learn about neuroscience investigators who are bridging their distinct areas of expertise to identify precision therapies for migraine and headache disorders. You’ll discover how our cardiothoracic surgery team's expertise in robotic-assisted surgery for early-stage lung cancer was a life-changer for a Waterloo, Iowa, patient. You’ll discover how faculty member Kevin P. Campbell, chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and one of the world’s foremost scientists studying muscular dystrophy, has stayed connected to Iowa for over 40 years. You’ll also meet two of our 2025 medical school graduates — rural Iowa natives now in residency training in OBGYN and family and community medicine — who plan to practice near their hometown communities. And you’ll see how our Community Connect Iowa program is working with nine hospital systems — serving dozens of Iowa towns and cities — to provide information technology and support so they can deliver coordinated, high-quality care to their communities.
These stories resonate with me because making connections is what drives me as a doctor, administrator, collaborator, and lifelong learner. You could even say it’s what inspired me to choose a career in medicine in the first place.
