Six Decades in Medicine – A Conversation with Dr. Robert Kyle

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Aug 31, 2019 | Margaret Shepard | @Margaret_Marie

Growing up in North Dakota, Dr. Robert Kyle was heading toward a career in forestry until a family friend suggested that he become a doctor. He kept that thought in the back of his mind until his brother was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. Impressed by the doctor who treated his brother, Dr. Kyle decided to pursue medicine.

After graduating from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago in 1952 and completing his training, Dr. Kyle came to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in August 1961 and began a career in hematology. His career has focused on helping people with myeloma and related disorders. As a result of Dr. Kyle's work, today's patients have a much clearer idea of whether their condition will progress to myeloma and, if so, at what stage in their life they can expect to develop symptoms. Patients haven't been the only beneficiaries, as Dr. Kyle's work also has helped specialists understand the benign, intermediate and severe forms of myeloma.

On this Mayo Clinic Radio program segment, Dr. Kyle will discuss how he has stayed grounded in his nearly six decade career.