Getting to Know Dr. Stephen Lauer
Sitting in Dr. Lauer’s office, you can quickly get a little peek of who he is. An avid Kansas Jayhawk fan, proud University of Kansas alumni, and a travel enthusiast. Perhaps even a bit of a window into his personal and professional philosophy from a sign that reads, “Everything I need to know, I learned in Kindergarten.”
Dr. Lauer has been a pediatrician for the University of Kansas Medical Center since 2001 after completing his undergrad at the University of Kansas and receiving his medical degree from the University of California- Irvine. His initial plan was to go into cardiovascular research but found that the rewards of research were very long-term, as a result, it was hard to see the impact.
After working as a Staff Physician for the University of California- San Francisco, he decided that pediatrics was a better fit and a more positive field of medicine. He liked the reward of helping kids live up to their potential while being a supportive arm in their development instead of providing the reactive care that comes with treating adults. Plus, kids are much better patients and parents are better listeners!
Dr. Lauer has worked in the pediatric field for over 23 years and reflected on his time in medical school. He said the hardest part was feeling like he was learning from a fire hose with the immense amount of information that needed to be learned and put into practice. As an Associate Professor for Pediatrics, he has seen firsthand how medical school has changed over the years from memorization to discussion and interactive based learning with more of an emphasis on how to communicate and build relationships with patients. He challenges future doctors to understand the pathway of a physician vs. a healer, the best advice he’s received. Instead of acting superior, Dr. Lauer talks about creating an equal partnership with patients and providing care with them and not for them. As a result, doctors are engaging with patients in ways that matter which will yield more successful outcomes in their treatment and overall health care. This philosophy is demonstrated in how Dr. Lauer communicates with his patients; he gives them the space and time to ask the questions they have. In return, he provides the assurance that parents will get help when they need it. He clearly understands that at the end of the day, that assurance is really all parents are looking for especially when their child is sick.
Dr. Lauer is grateful to have CMN serve the KUMC campus because it allows the pediatrics department to provide services and value-added care that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. As Dr. Lauer noted, having CMN funding, is the difference between doing it and doing it well. The support of CMN also gives pediatrics the reach and access to care for pediatric patients in departments such as Ophthalmology, Proton Therapy, mental health, and many other areas in the future.
When he’s not busy helping kiddos feel better, Dr. Lauer is cheering on the Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse, traveling with his wife and showing her all the fun activities KC has to offer. Although his favorite foods are KC BBQ and cookies, he is learning the different ways tofu can be prepared compliments of wife!
Thanks Dr. Lauer for being in incredible pediatrician and CMN advocate!