A MIND for
BY SONDRA BARR
DETAIL
PLANNING AND PRECISION DEFINE THE WORK OF DR . POOYAN ROHANI .
Pooyan Rohani , M . D ., M . Engr ., approaches medicine with the mindset of an engineer . Precision , problem solving , and attention to functionality , define Dr . Rohani ’ s detailed approach to the surgical and non-surgical management of skin cancers , as well as other dermatologic conditions .
A fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic and reconstructive surgeon and board-certified dermatologist , Dr . Rohani ’ s exceptional education and multi-faceted background give him a unique skillset that sets him apart from his surgical contemporaries .
Prior to attending Vanderbilt School of Medicine on a merit-based scholarship where he graduated with top honors as an inductee of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society , he graduated summa cum laude with bachelor ’ s and master ’ s degrees in biomedical engineering from Texas A & M University .
His untraditional educational trajectory came as no surprise to his family . From Houston , Dr . Rohani took a shine to programing and all things tech early on . “ From computers to VCRs to TVs , I was the person people would call to fix things for them ,” he says . “ I was also interested in medicine , in part because both my parents are physicians . The medical world was something I grew up in .”
Although the conversations around the Rohani dinner table invariably evolved into medical discussions , where the young man would listen intently as his parents discussed different medical concepts , he initially pursued engineering .
With medical school still in his future , he first used his impressive engineering credentials as a research and development engineer for Medtronic , a large medical device company known for pacemakers , defibrillators , and brain stimulators . From there , he went to work for the German biomedical technology company Biotronik .
Tasked with training physicians and teaching them how to program the company ’ s devices to work in clinical studies , the job required the future doctor to travel to catheterization labs , operating rooms , and cardiology clinics around the country .
The catalyst for becoming a surgeon : “ I met a lot of physicians and really became interested in having more hands-on , direct patient care and interactions ,” he says .
Recognizing medicine was his ultimate calling , he turned his unwavering focus toward getting into medical school and was offered numerous scholarships before selecting Vanderbilt School of Medicine , From there , Dr . Rohani trained at prestigious Harvard Medical School .
8 • NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021