Dr. Cristina LePort was born in Bologna, Italy. She attended medical school at the University of Bologna, and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases. She resides in Orange County, California, with her husband Peter LePort, surgeon. They have three children and three grandchildren.
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I remember sitting on the terrasse of my apartment in Bologna Italy at the age of twelve deciding I was going to be a doctor.
What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine, specifically in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases?My chief resident was a great mentor during my internship. I became fascinated with the highly challenging investigative work involved in the practice of internal medicine and the special relationship a primary doctor has with his patients.
Can you share some key experiences from your time at the University of Bologna that shaped your approach to medicine?The University of Bologna is the oldest university in the world. I remember entering the classroom decorated with marble busts of famous past professors. The courses were long and hard. Most student had difficulty keeping on track with the tests (all administered in person as one-to one oral exams.) It gave me a great theoretical foundation. I was very proud when the entire faculty rose to present my diploma, signifying I was graduating “Summa cum laude.”
How did you decide to specialize in cardiovascular diseases, and what aspects of this field are particularly rewarding for you?After practicing internal medicine for 17 years, I felt the need to specialize. Cardiology attracted me because of the thrill and the great reward of the life and death emergencies it involves.
As a board-certified physician, what challenges did you face during your certification process, and how did you overcome them?When I came from Italy to the USA, right after Medical School, I barely spoke English and was not familiar with multiple-choice question tests. Most of the time I got the impression that I was failing and went home and cried. In reality, I always passed, often with great results, due to the solid medical education I got in Bologna.
Can you tell us about the process of transitioning from a medical professional to a fiction writer? What motivated you to start writing novels?In my forties, while I was trying to match into a Cardiology fellowship program, I read “The Art of Fiction” by Ayn Rand and became fascinated with writing novels: the creation of a new world of my choice, the invention of characters I wanted to meet. The medical world is an ideal backdrop for thrillers, for several reasons. It is bursting with life-or-death emergencies. Medical thrillers count on our fear of disease, something everyone must face, and make us ponder our own mortality. Several of the qualities defining a good doctor overlap with what makes a successful author, such as the ability to “read” people, meticulous work in confronting high stakes situations, investigative talent, ability to integrate many clues into a meaningful sum.
Are there any specific themes or messages that you aim to convey through your medical thrillers, considering your background in medicine?Heroes can be regular people who go beyond the call of duty and perform heroic acts, despite their fears. The medical world is an ideal backdrop for heroes, due to the high stakes, and a profession dedicated to fight death and diseases.
How do you stay updated on the latest advancements in medicine and science to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in your novel, "Dissection"?The practice of Medicine requires continuous reading and updating due to the constant great innovations in the field. Since I often write about futuristic science, I search the literature for evidence that someone is actually working on those possible innovations, to make my writing more plausible.
Your novel involves the intersection of medicine and cutting-edge science. How do you conduct research for incorporating scientific elements into your stories?I read medical journal, search the media, and consult with colleague of different specialties, as necessary, to write about futuristic but plausible cutting-edge science.
Being a resident of Orange County, California, how has your local environment influenced your writing, if at all? Are there any specific settings or places in your novels inspired by your surroundings?Two of my books are set in New York City. Private Investigator Kirk Miner, the main character in most of my books, lives in Brooklyn with his family. (Brooklyn is where I did my medical internship and Internal Medicine Residency.) DISSECTION, the only published book so far, is set in Washington DC, due to the nature of the story. I have another novel coming, DO NO HARM, set in Orange County, where I currently live.
Could you share some insights into your collaborative process with your husband, Peter LePort, who is a surgeon?Peter is my Alpha reader, the inspiration for several of my heroes, and my consultant for the surgical events in my books.
Your family seems to play an important role in your life. How have your personal experiences as a wife, mother, and grandmother influenced the characters and relationships in your novels?Several of my characters are inspired by my family members. To name a few, my daughter Aurora inspired Kirk’s Miner’s wife; my son Francisco, who skipped high school and went to college at the age of 12, inspired Peter, Kirk’s son.
How do you approach crafting a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats?I ask myself what are the worst possible obstacles I can challenge my characters with, so they can struggle and show how brave and clever they are.
As a physician-author, how do you handle ethical considerations when dealing with medical and scientific topics in your novels? Do you ever find yourself grappling with the responsibility of accurately representing the field?Constantly. Unfortunately, many authors today write about innovations as if they constitute more of a danger than an advantage for man. It is up to man to choose how to use technology and medical advances. Moral judgment applies only to man. Anything can be used for a good or an immoral purpose. The fact that humanity made it so far, it’s an indication that most men usually act according to a proper moral code. This includes doctors.
What do you think of AllAuthor? Has this website been helpful to you?I love AllAuthor! Some of my most successful posts and ads resulted from your banners and the magic tool you provide. Thanks so much for all your help making my book(s) successful.
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