Fatherhood Fuels Doctor’s Passion for Care and Learning
Leonard Sokol, MD, neurology, father of two, under age 2
Leonard Sokol, MD, neurologist, Scripps Clinic Encinitas and Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines
Leonard Sokol, MD, neurology, father of two, under age 2
Every June, we celebrate the fathers in our lives and honor their contributions. Leonard Sokol, MD, a neurologist at Scripps Clinic Encinitas and Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines pulls double duty in his commitment to both his practice and his family. The memory care specialist spends his days treating patients and his time off with his wife and two sons, 22-month-old Noah and 7-month-old Aaron.
“It’s more of a work-life integration as opposed to work-life balance,” he says.
Researchers have linked parenthood to numerous health benefits, including better heart health, lower blood pressure and improved emotional well-being. Dr. Sokol credits his kids for keeping him active mentally and physically — something he also encourages of his patients.
Learning from your children
Having two under age 2 keeps Dr. Sokol on his toes, and their love of learning inspires him and has reignited his passion for research, he says.
“Kids are like sponges, and I can only aspire to be at their level as it relates to constantly staying abreast of new literature, new findings and new developments,” he says with a laugh.
“Constantly wanting to learn, read, grow — whether it’s a new conference, a new drug, a new study — that’s what makes the job so incredibly exciting and rewarding. Every day is an opportunity to learn.”
It’s said that the best way to learn something is to teach it to others, and Dr. Sokol now knows the names of more animals, fruits and vegetables than he ever thought possible even though the recall and repetition can feel similar to the cognitive assessments he gives in the office. He also loves to read to his sons and, although they’re young, talk about each story’s theme and moral.
“It’s a lot of fun. It’s almost kind of like you get another chance to relive a bit of childhood in some ways,” he says. “I wasn’t really able to extract much when I was young, but can do more now as a parent.”
Learning from patients and their families
That love of learning extends into Dr. Sokol’s professional life as well. The importance of lifelong learning is something he stresses to his patients, and in turn he learns valuable life lessons from them.
“That’s the part that I absolutely love,” he says. “I’ve learned the most about living and life from the patients and the patients’ families that I have come to encounter. They are sources of inspiration of wisdom, and I feel incredibly grateful for that.”
This content appeared in San Diego Health, a publication in partnership between Scripps and San Diego Magazine that celebrates the healthy spirit of San Diego.