Over the years, people have asked me how I ended up pursuing two very different dreams.

I’m a cardiologist, a professor of medicine, and in 2024 I had the incredible privilege of becoming the 704th person to travel to space. It took 12 applications before that dream became reality.

Most of my life has been spent helping people care for their hearts. But along the way, I also realized how much resilience, courage, and persistence it takes to pursue the things that matter most.

Those experiences—in medicine, in space, and in the moments of doubt in between—led me to write my upcoming book, “A Heart for Space.” The book explores what it means to navigate competing dreams, silence imposter syndrome, and find the courage to pivot when life asks something new of you.