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Dr. Steven Gogela was a particularly precocious fifth-grader — he tried his best to memorize the entire periodic table of elements.

Since then, science has remained his passion. Dr. Gogela is a neurosurgeon with Bryan Health who runs an outreach clinic at the Visiting Physicians Clinic. As a neurosurgeon, he diagnoses and treats a wide range of neurological problems, from brain tumors to spinal cord compression to disabling pain.

"This gives us the honor of helping people in some of their darkest hours," he said. "These are some of the most grateful patients we have. While neurosurgery leads to late nights and emergent operations, it allows us to make a huge impact in someone's life."

Dr. Gogela says his favorite part of his job is solving the puzzle of each patient's individual health problem. "The real challenge is making sure we have the correct diagnosis and plan for resolving the issue," he said.

When he first started his practice, a surgical colleague recommended that Dr. Gogela start an outreach clinic in Columbus, and he's glad he listened. Now, he is able to see patients without the need for them to travel to his practice in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Dr. Gogela's wife, Kate, is a pediatrician, and they have four children. When he has free time, he loves to run and coach his children in soccer and basketball. "We golf, travel, ride our bikes and try to keep life simple," he said. "My wife and I 'date' by going on long runs, and then we run marathons together."

He says that if he could eat only one thing for the rest of his life, it would be overnight oats in the morning and fresh fish for other meals. And his choice for a dinner companion would be Ryan Reynolds, "preferably in his Deadpool costume."