Episode 38: From the Wilderness to the Operating Room with Dr. Tommy Gavigan

On Adventure

In this episode of the On Adventure Podcast, I catch up with an old friend and fraternity brother, Dr. Tommy Gavigan. From our days at the University of North Carolina to his current life as a practicing surgeon in Charlotte, Tommy’s journey has been anything but conventional. After college, Tommy spent nearly a decade guiding teenagers into remote wilderness areas with Moondance Adventures—experiences that shaped not only his leadership but also his path into medicine.

We explore the connection between pushing past your comfort zone in the backcountry and managing high-stakes scenarios in the operating room. Tommy shares incredible stories of adventure, personal growth, and how these experiences molded his outlook on life. Now in his “Adventure 3.0,” he reflects on fatherhood, future aspirations, and why challenging yourself—physically, mentally, and emotionally—is key to living fully.

This episode is a deep dive into why we seek hard things, what we gain on the other side, and how adventure can prepare us for life’s biggest moments.

Episode Highlights

• [1:10] - Introduction: Reconnecting with Tommy and his unique journey post-UNC.
• [4:45] - The Moondance Adventures: From green teenagers to life-changing moments in the wilderness.
• [12:30] - Real backcountry challenges: Lightning storms, hypothermia, and a rare grizzly bear encounter.
• [18:00] - Service through adventure: Teaching kids leadership, grit, and resilience.
• [31:30] - From outdoor leader to surgeon: Tommy’s leap into medicine and his pivotal “letter to the future self.”
• [39:20] - Adventure 3.0: Parenthood, teaching his son the outdoors, and future dreams.
• [42:15] - Managing high-stakes stress: Lessons from the wilderness to the operating room.
• [45:30] - What’s next? Personal peaks, challenges, and expanding the comfort zone.

Links & Resources

• Moondance Adventures
• From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks (Recommended Book)
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