Headline: “Surgeon, Advocate, Sci-Fi Fanatic, Innovator, Humanitarian Changemaker, and Cultural Liaison”

Summary: Dr. Alan R. Koslow has led a life rich with innovation, advocacy, and service, beginning with impactful initiatives in his high school years and evolving into a career marked by professional excellence and public leadership. As a vascular surgeon, he not only excelled in patient care but also launched legislative, humanitarian, and cultural initiatives that have transformed lives. A lifelong science fiction fanatic—not just a fan—he teaches its history. He also champions cultural and academic exchange between Iowa and China.

Full Bio: Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Alan R. Koslow’s early life was shaped by activism, innovation, and a precocious intellect. While in high school during the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was involved with conceiving of and leading three initiatives with a lasting national impact: the March of Dimes Walk-a-Thon, which became a model for fundraising events nationwide; a Star Trek petition campaign that galvanized fans to save the beloved show; and a school volunteer program that set a standard for student-led community service. During this time, he also became the youngest author of a medical article published in a major medical journal, a groundbreaking achievement that demonstrated his early passion for science and innovation.

Additionally, while in high school, he participated in over 30 protests advocating for environmental and civil rights causes, laying the foundation for a lifetime of advocacy. His commitment to service continued through college and medical school, where he was active in the Pilot 100 program, riding along with police over 80 times to gain firsthand experience in community safety. He also participated in the FAST (First Aid Simulation Team), creating disaster simulations for first responders close to 200 times, and volunteered with Red Cross disaster services, aiding approximately 30 families displaced by fires. These formative experiences deepened his commitment to public service and preparedness, values that would shape his professional and humanitarian endeavors.

Between medical school and his professional career, Dr. Koslow devoted himself to impactful research and historical exploration. He spent three years at the American Red Cross Blood Research Labs and the National Institutes of Health, where he published the first paper on successfully growing cultured stem cells, marking a significant achievement in medical science. Simultaneously, he collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History, where he identified nearly 200 antique medical instruments that had eluded identification. These endeavors reflected his dedication to advancing medical knowledge while preserving its history, bridging the worlds of innovation and tradition. During this time, he was also a team physician for the United States Equestrian Team.

His passion for creativity and service extended into his medical career as a vascular surgeon, where he distinguished himself in patient care and public health efforts. Long before his retirement from surgery in 2016, Dr. Koslow combined his expertise with legislative efforts in Iowa, contributing to bills such as the HAWK-I (Iowa S-CHIP) expansion, the lead on reversing the state’s stem cell ban along with securing $12 million in funding for a Stem Cell Research Center at the University of Iowa, expanding newborn genetic testing, and conceiving of the Farm to School program. The Farm to School program, the first of its kind in the nation, has since been adopted by a majority of states.

Dr. Koslow founded the Dragon Con Heinlein “Pay It Forward” Blood Drive, which has collected tens of thousands of units of blood, saving countless lives, and continues to serve as its director of volunteers. It has become one of, if not the largest, recurring blood drives in the USA. For his efforts in legislative advocacy and the blood drive, he has received National Volunteer of the Year awards from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and the March of Dimes (MOD)—a rare and distinguished achievement from three national organizations. Globally, his participation in humanitarian missions includes providing critical disaster relief to regions like Haiti (the earthquake), South Sudan (150,000-person refugee crisis), the Philippines (Typhoon Yolanda), and others. He was on the first-in strike teams in disaster situations, being among the first to set up emergency responses to these crises.

Dr. Koslow is also a lifelong science fiction fanatic—not just a fan—describing himself as deeply devoted to the genre. He began attending science fiction conventions at age 14 and now teaches a course on the history of science fiction at the Chautauqua Institution, further showcasing his passion and expertise.

Dr. Koslow has also been deeply engaged in political advocacy and civic involvement throughout his life. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2004 and was a delegate to the Iowa Democratic State Convention every four years from 1996 through 2016. Additionally, he was a member of the Iowa Democratic State Platform Committee during those same years, shaping key policy discussions and priorities. Over the course of his political engagement, Dr. Koslow met and held discussions with almost every presidential candidate from both major parties during this period, offering his insights on critical issues. Memorable highlights of his political journey include playing catch with Buddy, President Clinton’s dog, outside the Oval Office at the White House, having a one-on-one breakfast with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Christmas morning in 2015, and being introduced by Senator Tom Harkin to Hillary Clinton as “the bump,” a reference to his instrumental role in helping Governor Tom Vilsack win the governorship.

A lover of music, Dr. Koslow frequently attends live performances 4-6 nights a week and on weekends, enjoying music festivals and a range of genres, including blues, jazz, 60s-70s rock, opera, comedy, filk, classical, and Broadway. Dr. Koslow has had several podcasts, most notably Skeptics Guide to Government, which ran weekly for close to 15 months and garnered 6,000 listeners. He is also an amateur magician who has performed in China and at the Chautauqua Institution. He is an avid cook who specializes in preparing international dishes, including Italian, African, Chinese, Indian, Jewish, and many others. His love for travel has taken him to 49 of the 50 U.S. states and 23 countries. Alan is married to Margie and has three adult children: Elizabeth, a pediatrician living in San Antonio; Scott, on the faculty of Communication at Truman State University in Missouri; and Christina, who resides in Des Moines.

In recent years, Dr. Koslow has expanded his efforts to include cultural and academic exchange with China. As a liaison with Hebei Province, he is working to bring 2,000 to 3,000 Iowa students to Hebei for immersive cultural experiences. Additionally, he is fostering partnerships between Jilin Nursing University and U.S. nursing schools, promoting academic collaboration and professional development. Dr. Koslow’s enduring legacy is one of creativity, advocacy, and a lifelong passion for innovation, science fiction, and serving others on a global scale.