Hello, 

I hope your summer is going well. The month of July is off to a great start for me, as I recently celebrated a huge milestone on July 1, 2019. The 20th anniversary of my graduation from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurosurgery Residency program! The past twenty years have been a true honor. This event caused me to reflect on my proudest moments and what I’ve learned. I shared my reflections and what I plan to do differently on my blog, you can read them here.

Along those lines, I also had the opportunity to sit down for an interview with Becker’s Spine Review to discuss my life experience as a neurosurgeon and Hall of Fame wrestler. I talk about what keeps me driven day in and day out to make sure my chosen field is one of the most innovative for improving the quality of people’s lives.

A few weeks ago, I had the profound privilege of addressing the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado about elite performance and overcoming fear and trauma. During my talks, I spoke about how elite training and standards of personal excellence can equip people to persevere through occupational hazards and traumatic experiences, whether it’s in the confines of neurosurgery or during Special Forces Operations. My time at Fort Carson was by far the highlight of my month with these inspirational individuals, I only hope I was able to return the favor with my lectures.

Some of the topics I addressed with the 10th Special Forces Group are also in my upcoming book Cognitive Dominance: A Brain Surgeon’s Quest to Out-Think Fear. You can be among the first to read it if you subscribe to the pre-order list!

Never stop fighting for the best version of yourself, even if the odds seem stacked against you. It’s that internal determination to improve ourselves that ultimately makes each day an opportunity to better our own lives and those around us.

Warm regards,
Mark