Jan Stepanek, M.D., M.P.H.

My name is Jan Stepanek. I'm the current chair of the Division of Preventive Occupational and Aerospace Medicine.

My role at Mayo Clinic is to function as a physician in the Executive Health Program. I've always had an interest in high altitude related disorders since I was in the Swiss military. And when I had the opportunity to find out that there was actually a specialty in this country that allows for further study in that field, I would really rather say that the field found me, than me finding the field.

Growing up, my father was an internist. And, as such, I got the opportunity to be with him on house calls. My father used to tell me over and over, if you listen long enough to your patients, they will tell you the key cues for a diagnosis. Not just ordering tests, but rather, trying to find out what it is that a disease or condition means to the individual, what their true concerns are, and sometimes that may lead us into discussions that are not at first blush medical. Getting that information, getting the inside story from the patient is my desire and goal.