Princeton University Athletics
Dan Kahn ‘93 MD / Men’s Fencing
City, State / Workplace / Title
Mountain Lakes, NJ/AdvoCare Parsippany Pediatrics/Pediatrician, Partner
Medical Specialty / Other Degrees (MBA/MPH, etc.)
Pediatrics/MD; former Major, US Air Force (1997-2004)
What made you choose a career in healthcare?
A surgeon fixed years of ear problems for me when I was very young, which left an indelible impression about the transformative power of medicine. Early in my freshman year, at a reception for local alumni, a toddler was choking. The gathering went still and silent. All of these learned professors and alumni, of whom I was in awe for their academic accomplishments and life of learning, didn't have a clue as to how to save this child's life. After a minute that felt like an hour, someone whacked the child hard enough on the back to help him to breathe again. I wanted to become the person in the room who knows what to do when a young life is in danger.
What is the focus of your work today?
Pediatrics
How has your work changed in the face of COVID-19?
As a squad leader in my junior and senior years, my responsibility was to exemplify a 'roll up the sleeves' attitude, to stiffen resolve, to turn things around. I think this is an approach that has helped me face academic challenges, personal challenges, and even push through this current pandemic.Dan Kahn
I have never had such a fear for the safety of my staff, as well as a sense of solemn duty to their well-being, as with this pandemic. It was one thing for me to choose to pursue rendering care in the face of CoVID-19 (to me it was obviously yes, this is my minimum obligation to my patients), quite another for me to make that decision for other people. My staff was looking to me for establishing protocols to keep them safe, leading and advising on PPE (let alone securing enough PPE), and also depending on income. In the past year I needed to learn a lot, quickly, about helping my employees and colleagues with medical leave, helping with unemployment assistance when hours were reduced, and navigating work shortages when staff members became sick or were simply exposed and at risk. My pediatric patients have been incredibly stressed. The prevalence of depression, suicidality, and anxiety have skyrocketed, while proactive approaches to non-COVID medical problems are often being neglected.
How did being a Princeton student-athlete prepare you for the challenges you’ve faced?
Our fencing team worked hard to prepare for each of our seasons with commitment to improving our chances of victory beginning months ahead of time. We had excellent camaraderie, and a sense of a common mission which is rare in a sport that is, ultimately, an individual one. Despite being one of the elite teams in the nation, we suffered occasional losses. As a squad leader in my junior and senior years, my responsibility was to exemplify a "roll up the sleeves" attitude, to stiffen resolve, to turn things around. I think this is an approach that has helped me face academic challenges, personal challenges, and even push through this current pandemic.
What keeps you inspired as you look ahead?
I love working with children, and helping them remains my primary goal. When times are hard, I think about amazing people doing more with less, like in organizations such as Doctors without Borders and Amnesty International. The staff of these organizations are inspirational.
Medical School / Other Affiliations
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (medical school), currently affiliated with Morristown Medical Center/Goryeb Children's Hospital (attending medical staff) and Clinical Instructor in Pediatrics for Sidney Kimmel Medical College/Thomas Jefferson University
Tiger Heroes
In partnership with RWJBarnabas Health, the official health care system of Princeton Athletics, “Tiger Heroes” honors front line workers and health care leaders from our alumni community. This digital and social series highlights alumni from all 37 varsity sports programs who have risen to the challenge since the onset of COVID-19. We also recognize special Princeton friends and family. Nominations may be sent to Jess Deutsch, Princeton's Associate Director, Student-Athlete Services: jdeutsch@princeton.edu