Paul Kalanithi

Paul Kalanithi (1977–2015) was an American neurosurgeon and writer. He held degrees in English literature, human biology, and history and philosophy of science and medicine from Stanford and Cambridge before graduating from Yale School of Medicine. Diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, he wrote the memoir When Breath Becomes Air, reflecting on life, death, and medicine. He died at age 37, leaving behind his wife Lucy and daughter Elizabeth.