Jan Stepanek, M.D., is an accomplished physician and associate professor of medicine. With a medical degree from the University of Basel, he later trained in Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic and in Aerospace Medicine at NASA and the University of Texas. Dr. Stepanek holds board certification in Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine/Aerospace Medicine. He currently serves as the medical director for the Aerospace Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and co-directs the Mayo Clinic Aerospace Medicine and Vestibular Research Laboratory and the Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Simulation Center. His research interests include high altitude, acceleration, and spatial disorientation protection, as well as simulation-based training. Dr. Stepanek has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and abstracts, and is the principal investigator in research programs funded by US government, Swiss programs, and Mayo Clinic. In his free time, he enjoys mountaineering, hiking, and spending time with his family.