Hailing from Kansas, Dr. Kyle Dack completed his stroke fellowship training at Vanderbilt and was happy to stay on board as a faculty member. He enjoys splitting his time between the hospital and clinic, particularly following patients in their long-term care after a stroke. Dr. Dack loves Nashville, but he also loves snow skiing, so he hits the slopes as often as time allows.
Tell us about your background.
I am originally from Overland Park, KS. I grew up there and both of my parents still live there. I have two older siblings; one lives in Kansas City and the other in Green Bay. I went to the University of Colorado in Boulder for college, but my interest in medicine started in high school and college. I was lucky enough to have a high school class that let me explore health career options. In college I double majored in biology and neuroscience, so I started getting interested in neurology during that time. I did some volunteering and research during college, and after graduation I spent a year in Denver working at an oral surgeon’s office. Afterwards, I went back home to the University of Kansas in Kansas City for both medical school and my neurology residency. I decided to pursue a stroke fellowship, and I matched at Vanderbilt after which I decided to stay on board as a faculty member.
What attracted you to Vanderbilt?
I had interviewed here for residency, and at that time I really enjoyed the people and the hospital. When it came time to interview again for fellowships, I membered how much I had enjoyed it. I really liked the stroke faculty, the interesting patient population, great work-life balance, and the city was also a big attraction.
The reason I stayed on after fellowship was for a lot of the same reasons–the team, the patients, and the city.
What have been some career highlights for you so far?
The biggest reward that you don’t experience as much of in training is the long-term stroke care. Most of our training is in the hospital, so you discharge your patients and often don’t see them again. During training, we don’t get the experience of following and tracking a patient’s progress over the course of that critical year after a stroke. It’s rewarding to see that people who have significant deficits while in the hospital go on to do quite well in recovery.
I also find it satisfying to work with all the other aspects of health that can be affected after a stroke—including cognitive function, depression, and anxiety—and helping patients with those aspects as well throughout their recovery.
Who have been some important mentors for you along the way?
Every teacher along the way has had a big impact on me. Even when I was young, teachers and professors have always been people I admire. Similarly during medical training, all the attendings you work under during residency become your teachers and mentors. You watch the attendings and senior residents you work with, and you pick up the little things they do that you can incorporate into your practice. I’ve been grateful for everyone that has taught me along the way and dedicated their time to teaching somebody beneath them.
What do you consider your long-term career goals?
Right now I split my time between the hospital and clinic, and I think my clinical job will always look like this. That schedule works really well for me. I want to grow and develop in other ways, though. I think what that will look like for me will be to invest time in quality improvement, clinical research, or medical education. I could see myself taking on an administrative or leadership role if the opportunity came along.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love Nashville. I like to eat, so my weekend activities usually revolve around that, exploring different areas of town, spending time with friends, and trying new restaurants. Nashville has some great thrift and vintage stores—I do a lot of that on the weekend. I like to spend time outside at the parks, and I play a lot of volleyball.
I got a Great Dane puppy six weeks ago named Birdie. She gives me an excuse to get out and about and explore new areas.
I love snow skiing. I grew up skiing and went often when I lived in Colorado. It’s a bit harder to get out there now since I live farther away, but I try to make it out a couple of times a year either with my family or college friends or just by myself.
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to?
I listen to music podcasts about the production of songs and what goes into music. I’ve been watching a lot of college women’s volleyball recently. I read pretty consistently, mostly fiction, but any nonfiction is usually anthropology, evolution, or other science topics.
What advice would you give to someone early in their training?
Try to enjoy everything along the way. It’s easy to get so focused on the end goal and then get stuck in the moment because you’re so busy and working hard. But prioritize the things you enjoy. The hard work is not worth it if you’re not enjoying your life along the way. Your hobbies, relationships, and other things you enjoy will make the hard parts easier and make you a better doctor in the long run.
