Pete Lalor Brings a Coach’s Mindset to Surgery and Parenting

Pete Lalor, a bariatric surgeon and medical director in Ohio, launched from Amherst College to Ireland to the hockey rinks of Holland—but today we find him leading a surgical weight loss program. A former student-athlete, Pete shares how his performance mentality evolved from athletics into medicine, and why he remains a student of psychology even decades after majoring in it at Amherst. Pete opens up about parenting five kids, the future of medicine (including the hype and limitations of GLP-1 weight loss drugs), and how youth sports today have left him feeling torn about their value and trade-offs. He also reflects on how emotional intelligence is a critical skill, whether you're in the operating room or the living room. Highlights include: His enduring interest in psychology helps him be a more empathetic physician and parent. Pete's perspective on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic is nuanced: they can help, but they're no magic bullet for obesity. The values he absorbed at Amherst and in sports—grit, teamwork, performance—still shape his life today. How he's envisioning the next 20 years, including how he might apply his extensive experience and curiosities in a new direction. The two Amherst classmates he wants me to interview next. To get in touch with Pete, email him at [email protected] and learn more about his practice at  http://www.woodcountyhospital.org.