Paul Kalanithi
Paul Kalanithi was an American neurosurgeon and author, best known for his memoir, When Breath Becomes Air. Born in 1977, he earned his medical degree from Stanford University and specialized in neurosurgery. His career was marked by a deep commitment to understanding the human experience, particularly in the face of terminal illness.
In 2013, Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, which profoundly impacted his perspective on life and medicine. He continued to work as a doctor while undergoing treatment, ultimately writing his memoir to share his insights on mortality, purpose, and the intersection of life and death.