Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Jasper Castillo
By: Morgan Samples
Published Date: Oct 18
When did you graduate from UAB?
I finished the UAB Otolaryngology Residency Program in 1993.- Where are you now?
I currently live in Gurley, Alabama and work in Huntsville, Alabama. We have 9 ENT docs in our practice, North Alabama ENT Associates. I completed a Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship in San Diego and then worked at Nemour's Children's Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida for 2 years before coming to Huntsville. 99% of my practice is pediatric and I see consults at the Women's and Children's part of Huntsville Hospital almost daily. When taking call, I see "all comers". - What aspect of your time at UAB do you believe was most valuable as you started your career?
Obviously, my time at Children's Hospital in Birmingham was very important. Dr. James Reilly was the Chief of Pediatric Otolaryngology and he was instrumental in helping me to land the fellowship in San Diego. - Did you have a particular mentor while at UAB? Why were they a good mentor?
Dr. Reilly was a great mentor. Dr. Peters was outstanding as well. I don't believe any program in the country had better Head and Neck training than UAB had under the tutelage of Dr. Peters. We were "fellowship trained" in Head and Neck while in residency. - What is one of your fondest memories from UAB?
We had great camaraderie among the residents. John Jebeles and Mike Sillers were in my year and we instituted the DNR Trach/FESS during the PGY-3 consult service. - Give one piece of advice you’d like to share with the current residents or those recently graduated.
The best advice for training is to consider that any and every day, a patient can show up on your doorstep and you're it. No one else to punt to, no transfers available. See as much as you can and do as much as you can while you have back-up available. - Hobbies/Interests: When you’re not working, how do you spend your time?
My kids are all out of the house now. Oldest son is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Oldest daughter is in medical school at Baylor in Houston. Youngest daughter and son are both in college at Alabama. I coached travel hockey for almost 20 years and now play hockey 2-3 mornings a week before work. Also still ride bikes a lot. Dr. Teachey (UAB Otolaryngology 1995) and I are participating in the Race Across America in June 2019. I try to find time in my day to play guitar.