Home: Greater Philadelphia, PA. Age: 66. Birthplace: Selma, AL. Profession: Physician. Organization: CGP Consulting, PC. Title: Principal. Alma mater: Emory University (BA in Chemistry and in History, MA in History of Science and Medicine); Tulane University (MD).
Current project: Engaged in clinical trial support and professional education for ongoing studies. Latest accomplishment: Published in the National Library of Medicine. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? From decades of clinical practice and academic responsibility to being a full-time consultant. Hobbies: Travel, food, wine. Recent travel or adventure: On a work trip to South Africa, I was recently able to visit the Heart of Cape Town Museum in the hospital where Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the first human-to-human heart transplant in 1967. Last book read: The Complete Guide to Memory, by Richard Restak. Recently viewed and recommended: Goebbels and the Furher, directed by Joachim Lang.
Personality profile: Driven, dedicated, inquisitive. How do you define a perfect friendship? Trusting, honest, open, unconditional. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Mutually beneficial. What is your greatest joy? My children. What is your guilty pleasure? Southern banana pudding that has chilled in the fridge for a day so that the vanilla wafers are soft, but the banana pieces aren’t brown. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Off-the-beaten path travel. What is at the top of your bucket list? Visiting Antarctica.
What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Playing cards with my grandparents. What movie have you repeatedly watched? The Princess Bride. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Family photos. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My maternal grandfather. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Don’t expect everyone else to work as hard as you do. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? My wife. What company or organization do you most admire? World Central Kitchen. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? The Holocaust, which brought my dad to the US. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? The birth of my children.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field?
To counter the smothering impact of clinical inertia.
What change would you like to see in the world? Peace in the Middle East. What message do you want to send out into the world? The Golden Rule. What widely held belief do you reject? That the Dallas Cowboys are “America’s Team.” What mega-trend most excites you? Growth of AI.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Serendipity. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My paternal grandparents. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A helicopter pilot. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My late father’s papers. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my wife, reminiscing and setting everything straight. What advice would you give your younger self? Keep your head down. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? College years.
Personal motto: Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. Favorite quote: “My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man” (Dan Fogelberg, who could well have been speaking to me about my father and grandfather). Desired epitaph: Loving father, effective teacher.
