Physician
Dr. Farrago received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Virginia in 1987, his Masters of Education degree from the University of Houston in 1990, and his Medical Degree from the University of Texas at Houston in 1994. His residency training occurred way up north at the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. In his final year, for some reason, he was elected Chief Resident by his peers. The faculty there regretted that decision for quite a long time.
Trainer
Prior to becoming the King of Medicine, Dr. Farrago was involved in sports medicine training of professional boxers in the late 1980s. Under the tutelage of fitness guru, Mackie Shilstone, he worked with countless fighters including five different world champions. His biggest highlight was being in a ring set inside a bull-fighting stadium whereupon Calvin Grove lost his title to Jorge Paez. He fondly remembers ducking the urine filled bottles of beer thrown at his head as they tried to exit the arena.
Inventor
Doug invented the Knee Saver, a padding that relieves knee stress in baseball catchers, while he was in medical school. He received the patent in 1991 and after years of persistence (and even more rejections), Dr. Farrago was able to make this product a staple of the game.
The original Knee Saver is currently in the Baseball Hall of Fame's traveling exhibit (Baseball As America) under its Ingenuity and Innovation section. The Knee Saver, and its knock-offs, are worn by many major league baseball catchers including Jason Varitek of the World Champion Boston Red Sox.
DOT-COM Victim
Douglas Farrago also created MedLecture.com, which was bought by a public company and subsequently became another casualty of the "dot gone" era. The company was designed to show video-streamed medical lectures through the Internet so that continuing medical education could be accomplished by a physician at his or her desktop. The company was poised to capitalize on the broadband revolution that was ready to explode (2000). Unfortunately, poor timing and even worse management caused the company to dissolve. Dr. Farrago never made a dime off his concept. His portfolio at one time was worth over $22 million with just six months left to cash out. It never happened. It has been rumored that Dr. Farrago cried for quite a while after that and has never been the same.
Writer
Doug created the Placebo Journal in 2001. Called "raunchy, adolescent, and very funny" by U.S. News.com, the purpose of this bi-monthly journal is to empower those in the healthcare field through the power of laughter. Seven years later, Dr. Farrago is still providing satire and humor to his ever-loyal knighthood of subscribers.
In 2005, the Placebo Journal caught the eye of Broadway Books. Dr. Doug compiled some of the Placebo Journal's best true stories of medicine along with a healthy dose of fake drug ads and x-rays to create the Placebo Chronicles. Like the Placebo Journal, the Placebo Chronicles invites those in the healthcare field and patients alike to share the laughter, the very best medicine for all.
Dr. Farrago also shares his unique insights about current issues in healthcare on his blog, and you can witness his showmanship at the Placebo Television.
Family Man
Dr. Farrago has been married for 19 years, has three children and two dogs. After six knee surgeries, he has been very limited in his ability to play sports anymore. His hobbies include coaching baseball, snowboarding, playing computer games and popping Viagra (not necessarily in that order).