As a child, Grant Ravenel learned to distrust conventional medical wisdom as he watched doctors stand by while his brain-injured father died. His distrust only increased as he progressed through medical school, internship, and residency. Later, as a practicing neurosurgeon, when his patients’ lives were on the line he chose to rely exclusively on his own training, experience, and instinct, even when his conclusions ran counter to his colleagues’ judgment. It nearly cost him everything.