![\"image2\"](\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/medicine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/945\/2018\/12\/eric_klett-image2.png\")
What brought you to UNC Medical Center?<\/strong><\/p>\n After a brief stint in private practice, I wanted to restart an academic research career in medicine. I contacted Dr. John Buse who took a chance on me and I have been at UNC now for 9 years.<\/p>\n Where are you from?<\/strong><\/p>\n I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. I spent my 20-30s in South Carolina, getting my undergraduate degree and graduating from medical school, then my residency and fellowship training.<\/p>\n Did you always want to be a doctor?<\/strong><\/p>\n No, I originally wanted to be a Navy pilot but changes in my vision precluded me from this path. I then became interested in biochemistry and molecular biology, and thought I would obtain a PhD in either biochemistry or molecular biology. However, I was encouraged to go to medical school, took the MCAT and was accepted. Interestingly, while I am a physician I spend a majority of my time still in the lab.<\/p>\n How did you choose your specialty?<\/strong><\/p>\n My parents can attest to the fact that I always wanted to find out how things work. I took apart many small appliances as a youth. This curiosity to figure out how things works has stayed with me. Endocrinology and metabolism is a specialty that appeals to my inquisitive nature.<\/p>\n What do you find most rewarding about your work?<\/strong><\/p>\n I enjoy having the ability to have my hands in different areas. One day I can be in the lab all day performing an experiment, the next I am discussing experimental designs with my post-doc and students, and the next I am seeing patients. I hope someday I can take what I learn from the bench and apply it to the care of my patients.<\/p>\n What are some of the new developments in your field of specialty?<\/strong><\/p>\n As the prevalence of obesity and diabetes increases there is a great deal of interest in stemming the tide. It is an exciting time to be a researcher in the field in obesity and diabetes. We have new therapies to treat diabetes and there are different approaches (medical and surgical) to treat obesity.<\/p>\n