The Wisdom and Wealth Podcast

Intangible Balance Sheet Episode 19: Dr. Antonio Tito

January 21, 2023 Joshua Klooz
The Wisdom and Wealth Podcast
Intangible Balance Sheet Episode 19: Dr. Antonio Tito
Show Notes Transcript

Welcome to another Intangible Balance Sheet episode. Today Dr. Antonio Tito  shares how he became fascinated with medical research and why this is an incredibly personal endeavor for him.  Listen in for his inspiring story!  

Please feel free to like, and share this episode as well as subscribe to our channel!  

JOSH KLOOZ, CFP®, MBA
SENIOR WEALTH PLANNER

Phone 281.719.0036
Text 281.699.8691
Fax 281.719.0156
 jklooz@carsonwealth.com

1780 Hughes Landing | Suite 570
The Woodlands, TX 77380

Music by bensound.com

Please check out and subscribe to my Youtube Channel and Newsletter!

JOSH KLOOZ, CFP®, MBA
WEALTH ADVISOR

Phone 281.719.0036
Text 281.699.8691
Fax 281.719.0156
jklooz@carsonwealth.com

1780 Hughes Landing | Suite 570
The Woodlands, TX 77380

Music by bensound.com





Welcome in again to the wisdom and wealth podcast. This is Josh Klooz, your host and I am the senior wealth planner here in The Woodlands for Carson wealth. This is an intangible balance sheet episode and I'm excited today to introduce to you Dr. Antonio Tito. And he is enthusiastic about making a difference in the world through scientific research, innovation and education. In Tonio, thank you so much for joining me. And welcome to the wisdom and wealth podcast and this intangible balance sheet episode.

Antonio Tito  2:22  
Thank you so much as well, Josh, really appreciate you inviting me for this podcast. I think it's really a great honor. And I'm very humbled to be a guest on your on your channel. I follow it. And I've been listening to your wonderful interviews. And I can tell you that what you're doing to the financial community, as well as to everyone else is really valuable.

Joshua Klooz  2:54  
Thank you so much. You are too kind in by segue in case we have any new listeners, the idea behind the intangible balance sheet is that there are those life principles and stories that have made us who we are today. And given any amount of money. We wouldn't trade those, those experiences because they're worth so much to us. And typically, Antonio, they come to us in the form of a story but I'm curious to to dive in a little bit deeper with you and understand a little bit about who you are and your upbringing. Could you go ahead and tell our audience a little bit more about your upbringing and your starting life?

Antonio Tito  3:40  
Thank you very much for the opportunity for me to share about my operating Yash I came from an immigrant family. I we were part of the Fujimori government in battle 90 The night late 1980s.

We we have to migrate. We had to flee the country because of the high inflation hyperinflation that happened during those years. And we moved to Puerto Rico after my father spent about six months there to prepare for why he was doing his master's degree. It was an interesting time because it was me and my brother, my two parents

on their students salary in a foreign country. And, and I can tell you that, you know, my parents have gone through a lot just to put food on the table and to make sure that we didn't know that they struggled. There was always always something to eat. It was it was a very beautiful childhood down in Maya West Puerto Rico. My father had a wonderful mentor You know, in his master's, and in doing his PhD program, him in Puerto Rico, and, you know, that really resonated and how I seek my mentors, how I sought my mentors, and also how I became a mentor of others as well. So I think that, that, that has had a positive influence on me and, and my my brothers. So after that, in Puerto Rico, doing myself during my primary school, my mom moved to, we moved to the US to Houston, because my parents were looking for an even better opportunity for us to go to universities, and Houston. So, my father, by then had already become a successful professor in Polytechnic University in Puerto Rico. And, and that didn't stop him from pursuing that other advance opportunity by coming to the US. So he, he got accepted as a faculty at the University of Houston downtown. And he also got accepted as, as a consultant engineer for Engineering Company in Houston. And all throughout the time that, you know, my, my parents took us to Puerto Rico, and then to the Houston I felt the the importance of, you know, being connect connected to your family, as well as to friends close to your family, and to the mentors that life brought you through various means, whether it's my parents, my dad's PhD mentor, or whether it's a good friend, that helps you helps you to, to navigate through a foreign country's economy as well as culture. So moving to Houston, you know, then I didn't know how to properly speak English, or how to understand the language. I couldn't understand anything on the radio, or movies that and so that was very difficult for me as a child. But rather than staying through ESL, I had the luck of knowing a really good teacher in high school. She's an American English teacher, who told me, you know, you have two options, you either stay in this class, or you push yourself into learning English and, and try to go into the other advanced classes. I was like, How can I go to an advanced class gifted and talented? If I don't know the language, she says, that's not a problem. You know, you know, you know, the, you know, the grammar, you know, how to write it, how to read. And then all you need to learn is just how to listen and understand and speak it. So, you know, that was my first motivation that I took to my heart. And I decided to

Joshua Klooz  8:49  
do that. How old were you at that time?

Antonio Tito  8:51  
I was 14 years old. So I was just entering high school. And then after that, Lord And behold, like, it was about, I think, six months after I entered the school, his Trosper High School, and I asked for a test to be included on a test for a gifted and talented I just say, well, they have I have nothing else to lose. So I might as well go in and take it. And I guess and I told myself, like, the very minimum, you know, if I could, I will just pass my mathematics and my science exams, that will be sufficient for me. I'm definitely going to pass my English or History test, but that turned out to be the opposite. I pass my English and my History test. So how I I took I got really good grades and they put the movement from an ESL to a gifted and talented class and that was an interesting thing. I have experience. And, and, and I remember from that day on, like, I never took things for granted, I think that was my mother who taught me not to do that. I became I became a tutor, I became a tutor for English, ESL, like, students, I was always available for them, you know, those kids that wanted to learn the language, you know, and I taught them how to go through this, you know, type of learning, by listening to watching videos and all that. It became an interesting, four years of high school, I moved from Stratford to Westchester Academy for International Studies, because I, I felt the I felt really compelled by the global nature of, you know, the education that they provided there. And that I was very lucky because the school only had about 24 or 25 students in the whole senior year, class, you know, coming up from a 2000 3000 Students school to that small school, really, you know, helped me a lot. So, after that, I went to school to undergrad, a US downtown, where my father was teaching. Since, you know, I said, I'm gonna be close to my dad, and, and I can just, you know, rest in his office, while while he, while I'm waiting for my classes, and it was, it was a good decision, actually, because I could have, I could have gotten accepted to top schools, like, because of my LSAT score, and because of my, the fact that I was celebratory and at the school. But I felt that in as an immigrant family, I wanted to be close to my dad and, and kind of observe how he, how he went on through some Spanish speaking professor to become successful as a faculty down there. And so I became part of the Scholars Academy, UAS, downtown. I graduated after three years. With one major, one major and two minors. I went to Poland,

Joshua Klooz  12:50  
did you sound Did you sleep?

Antonio Tito  12:54  
Actually, I had a really good time i i slept every year, ever since my second semester, I got involved with research. So I remember my first lab, when I discovered that polyaniline can be used for conducting electricity, when induced to in a redox reaction. And electrochemistry. I ran across the hallway, it was like 11 in the evening. I call my, my professor and he was sleeping, and I called my, I think it was my dad. And I told him that look what I found. And then the day after my professor was like, very excited. And, you know, we, we got a conference paper out of that, and, and it was an interesting experience. And I can tell you, from the very beginning since I was an undergrad, always looking for ways to challenge myself.

Joshua Klooz  14:08  
Yes, absolutely. Nick comes through so much in your in your upbringing and just your experiences. When you think it was interesting to hear you talk about your parents, I can't imagine all of the different challenges that they probably faced in those two major major moves. But what if you as you look back on it, are there any stories that stand out to you or any any memories that stand out to you specifically about their resilience through those those two major life changing moves, both in Puerto Rico and to Houston?

Antonio Tito  14:51  
Absolutely. I mean, I still remember when we didn't have a car when we first came to Puerto Rican shirts. For many years, and I remember, you know, our first car, we had to have it because, you know, it was my father, moving away from his school to his work, require us to have a car, and my mother, she, she sacrifice in her career as an executive, administrator and secretary. And she, she always took care of us, but that that moment, specifically, in assisting knew that, with the money that we were bringing in, my dad was bringing in a student, that wasn't going to be enough for us to buy a car. So he, she went on to, you know, get a job, and cleaning houses. And, and I and I still recall, like, you know, whenever she lives, she left us at school, she will go to her job and, and then come back, because, and then, you know, drop us off for that at a friend's calm and, and they go back to work. And, and I remember, once we got enough money to buy that car, she got so happy that, you know, that was enough for her to, you know, for us to take to take my dad to take that job, and then move to the next interface, that with my dad taking that job. My mother doesn't have to work anymore. But you know, it was just an interesting experience. Because, you know, I saw the, the dedication that she had to put not to get that financial tears financially stable. And ever since then no, like, I've seen my mother as a financial steward of the house of the home. You know, we came to the US selling our home, our first house in Puerto Rico, and then she she always administer the financial wealth. Really well. And, you know, we, my parents have changed homes more than 35 times. And also, my me and my brother, I think we have moved close to 10 or 12 times in a since we were kids, but always up. Right, always moving up. No, I think we only rented once, in San Juan, after that. It's always been, you know, buying homes and selling home. You know, just paying off the debt with the other home that we sold. You know, if it wasn't for my mother, managing that financial world? I don't think it will be there. So,

Joshua Klooz  18:01  
absolutely. And as you were younger. When did you decide? Did you decide early on that you want that you were drawn towards research? Do you remember a point in time where you were most interested in or something that piqued your interest and imagination.

Antonio Tito  18:25  
I think in high school, I had a great influence. Dr. DE Lea, who was a medical doctor, also an immigrant from Argentina. He couldn't practice medicine. But he gave brought in his knowledge, his wisdom of anatomy and physiology. And I remember that my first experiment was in looking at the cardiovascular system of development from from chicken from a chicken egg. There was a life and that was very interesting to me and actually wanted me I mean push me to kind of want to be a medical doctor like him. But then after that in like on during my undergrad, when I got a chance to go to Poland to do research on biophysics, and also go to the CDC, Center for Disease Control. Two as a leadership panel leadership and interpret and the leadership was called internship. I became really thrilled by the nature of doing research. But you know you're going into a new area and there's literally a blank slate in front of you waiting for you to draw and and and make something knew out of nothing that that is. And I think that was very motivating for me to pursue this career.

Joshua Klooz  20:10  
Tell us more about the career that you chose, right out of and kind of your first steps after leaving the academic world. Was that difficult? Or was that were you sure of what you wanted to do when you first stepped out?

Antonio Tito  20:30  
That's a very good question. I, I actually want to explore more about why is it that my grandfather, you know, develop very debilitating symptoms from a neurodegenerative disease. In five years, you know, he became fully disabled. And from commenting, having been a colonial war, having, you know, live a very healthy lifestyle, you know, he succumbed to very degenerative form of Parkinson's disease. So, that motivated me to go into a studying, like, GE was genome wide association studies, to figure out what could be some of those variants in our genome, that when activated, or the activated, you know, they call contribute to increase susceptibility for risk factors that are already already within us. We carry genetically identical genetically from our past generations, and then become, you know, deteriorating for our health. So, and that, that became a question. And I wanted to address it, using functional models of like, in rats, mice, as much as I can to see whether, by mutating their genome, they could have more, they could be more predisposed to increase in damage from diseases like stroke, or Parkinson's, or other diseases as well.

Joshua Klooz  22:33  
About how old were you when your grandfather's diagnosis became apparent?

Antonio Tito  22:40  
I was 17 years old.

Joshua Klooz  22:43  
It's a very, very formative time in your, your just your life? Right? How do you remember? Where was he out at the time? Where was he living close to you? Or was he back in Peru? Where was out at the time?

Antonio Tito  23:02  
He was fucking federal, it was back in. So what's my grandma,

Joshua Klooz  23:07  
that probably made it even harder. Given the distance to deal with all of the just that it's really just so hard, you know that you're not able to be there with them? I would imagine. So, in Estonia, it sounds as if research played a big role and just the the inquisitiveness of why things happen, the way they they happen, was a big factor in you choosing the path that you're on that how did you find the best path after leaving? Academia? Like, how did you find your footing, given the experiences that you just shared with us?

Antonio Tito  23:52  
Absolutely. I mean, I'll be happy to share with you something very personal, you know, that happened to me, I was actually while I was having my undergrad, I was almost certain certain set in my mind that I was going to become a priest. So after leaving, you know, my undergrad, I wanted, I was actually accepted to the seminary. And, you know, and it didn't. It wasn't until I graduated, that it clicked to me that it wasn't my vocation to go that route. But I still wanted to do something for, for humanity right then. And I felt that that in the research field, you know, in the lab, it wasn't just going to be enough training for me to, you know, prepare for doing something impactful. You know, not to say that the research that we've done has not been impactful, and we've we've been cited hundreds Have time, ever since we've published the papers, but then there was something else that I needed to call to be cultivated in my life, which was, you know, the, what they call the soft skills, I needed to, you know, learn more about, you know, the relationships, making building relationships, and maintaining those relationship nurturing them over long periods of time. And that's, that's why I decided to move into the business development field. And I found this great mentor, Nicholas Wharton, who was the founder of an American imaging Corp, an app called American medical metrics. And I remember our first interview was at a, at a bar, watching a game for English England versus believe it was I don't remember what was the other country that they were playing against. But anyways, that was very motivational, you know, I pass the interview. And, you know, he, he brought me under his guidance, you know, he was, I was very lucky, because he was the senior vice president, in the company, the founder, and very experienced engineer, he graduated from Stanford, Master's degree in mechanical engineering. So he also came from a scientific background, and, and I related, you know, with him, in that we both had to prepare really well for our meetings that we have to do with clients, potential clients, and from a scientific and technical perspective. So that that was, you know, the, my biggest motivation. And then after that, that's my move. I continue doing scientific consulting, and I'm writing, what more from a business standpoint.

Joshua Klooz  27:12  
And as you look back on those experiences, are there any particular instances that you think shaped you more than others, or that stands out to you, as you look back on them?

Antonio Tito  27:24  
Absolutely. I mean, I can tell you that, you know, one of the intangible welds that I've accumulated over time that really had a positive impact on my life was meeting, you know, mentors, regularly, you know, going through, you know, going through the ups and downs of whether it is my research, whether it's, you know, my own emotional feelings and as to how I felt, when, when we face difficulty in our research, and also in the business side, as well, you know, always having mentors that you could rely on, on a weekly basis to meet and to, you know, be have a trustworthy trust, trust, trust, trust, trust and relationship between the two of you, I think that really, you know, was very significant in how in how I move forward. And likewise, you know, being able to do the same for other students, medical students, for grad students, for undergrads who came to my lab, our lab to do research, you know, I can still keep in, I still keep in touch with most of them, over 2425 students in and they are all successful lawyers, engineers, medical doctors, and others. So I think that that that also had a great impact on me, because you have to be really you have to be really good at or at least learn to be patient and to listen. And I think that's, that's a trade that I, over time became, I became to enjoy really well.

Joshua Klooz  29:27  
In I would be remiss if I didn't know so far we've only focused on the positives, but often in these conversations that I have, it's the difficulties that sometimes are a gift in disguise. Do you and sometimes they even affect our trajectory and in a positive way. Are there any difficulties professionally that have stood out to you over the past, you know, over your career that you look back on and you're thankful for?

Antonio Tito  29:59  
Absolutely. I'm sorry, um, I was actually supposed to, you know, going, I mean, I went on to my PhD directly from my undergrad, you know, and I wasn't supposed to have a master's degree. So when the reason why I took a master's degrees, because then the research was wasn't going really well, from the first lab that I joined. And we were not finding significant changes, or I wasn't, the lab also wasn't the right fit for me. So I needed to move to another lab. And, you know, the school gave me an option to just move to another lab. And, you know, just call it quits on this lab. But I felt compelled that, you know, even the small data that we had already compiled and analyzed, so far, should not go to waste it, right. So, I told my committee that if I asked my professor if she could give me a master's degree, and they agreed, they agreed to have me take a master's degree. And, and it was interesting, because they, you know, the committee recommended, some of them actually recommend that the I will stay, or just just stay in the master's degree, and not move forward with a PhD. And, you know, and I listened to my heart, and I felt that now I needed to continue my doctorate and continue my, you know, my research in another lap. And I was very lucky that I, I had the support my parents, and, you know, my friends, and, and I, can I move, I move on, I got my masters. I defended successfully. And then I joined into another lab, and for my PhD and, and published on nature cell biology. So, sometimes, you know, it wasn't, is it's just that inner gut feeling that you have to continue on the path that you started. I think that that really motivated me to continue to have in getting my doctorate.

Joshua Klooz  32:36  
Absolutely. And are there any other experiences that stand out to you as shaping you and shaping your path in a significant way?

Antonio Tito  32:46  
Absolutely. I mean, from a personal standpoint, remember, my brother who, when I was 10 years old, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. And that really shook that struck us really high, really, because we were very, you know, we didn't have the relatives, distant relatives. Right next to us. And we, you know, it was a very, it's a life changing decision. And I remember, you know, my father's PhD mentor was so, so generous in paying for the ambulance for from my aways to send one, because this surgery had to be done. Emergency as an emergency, right. So they, we move, we went to San Juan to the hospital, and, you know, he got there the same day, I believe, was the surgery. And it was like an eight, nine hour surgery. And the, it was a very difficult case, in the first case like that, in the US. So, but he got better, you know, after a day or two of the search from the surgery, and then he started playing the violin again, and, you know, just being the kid that he was on. And so, I that's, that's a personal a personal standpoint. I mean, that's also most pushed me towards, you know, continuing my research and continuing to, to find solutions.

Joshua Klooz  34:39  
As we close out, I typically talk through what we term or what rather, Arthur Brooks has termed the happiness portfolio. And what's ironic to me as I'm hearing many of the traits that he talks about, in many of the things in common themes that he talks about, within the happiness portfolio, and You know, he, he cites that, you know, research has shown that, you know, a lot of happiness depends on our genetics or predisposition to be either cheerful or happy. Sometimes it depends on large life events, but there's a certain small subset of our habits, our daily habits, or our rhythms of life that play a big part in that, and it's our faith, family, community, or friendship, and then meaningful work. And it's always interesting to me that we've unknowingly taught, you know, touched on all four of those, those portions of what he terms the happiness portfolio, as you think through those four categories, are there are there ways that you daily and or weekly focus on those four those four parts of life? Or does it has it become so much a habit of your life that you do it unknowingly?

Antonio Tito  36:06  
Absolutely, thank you for thank you very much for asking me that Josh. You know, after experiencing, you know, many life changing events in my family, like my father, and my mother, both going through cancer, being survivors of very difficult types of cancer, you know, and my brother's brain surgery and, and other events, you know, that affected us, as you know, immigrant families know, that we dependent on each other, I found them the source of happiness and joy, you know, that and peace that comes in, you know, is reflected in the, in being present, being present with God being present, with the some people call it the universe frequencies and the universe, you know, waves that, that give you certain clues as to the meaning of life at that particular moment, right. Not necessarily over periods of future distance. But the fact that, you know, he gave me such a wonderful, supportive wife, you know, to marry and, and be supportive of the fact that we're both in the neurology space, in our, the way, we are friends, more than just, you know, like, wife and husband, and, and many other, you know, events like, having met, life, lasting friends, such as Victor Scott, Stacy, and others, who have come to life and fill it in, or who have come to life in different sets different times, in, during, during my career, and as well as, and we've stayed in touch with each other for many years now. And, and I think that, that, if you add friendship, to that, and you add in a peace of mind, that the you will be, you will be in peace, when you know that you're going on the right path. And you you will be given signs that, you know, throughout your career throughout your life, that will indicate that you're heading the right path, the right direction, even though the life around you may seem that you're, you're not going, there's something difficult is happening and something is very important.

Joshua Klooz  39:11  
That is so encouraging, internally to think thank you so much for your time today. I have been so encouraged, and I know our listeners will as well. Thank you so much for your time and sharing your story with us.

Antonio Tito  39:25  
Always, you know, just encoding Pope Francis. And I'll always be thankful. Always ask permission, and always permission and forgot to tell the thankful ask permission. And then the last one I forgot but there are three words that you know you can have in your life. And if you follow those three words at all times, you know, whether it's difficult sometimes you know because Moments are moments that where you don't want to think some somebody that that's hard to. But, you know, if once you're you go beyond that initial feeling, then you'll know that there is a reason why that happened. So yeah, so thank you, thank you judge very much for your time for your energy and for doing this amazing work. I think that the public will really, really benefit from all the great speakers that you bring in. I don't think I have contributed much. But I do want to tell you that I'm always happy to collaborate with you in future endeavors. Here to support.

Joshua Klooz  40:48  
Thank you again for joining us for this week's conversation. We trust that your time has left you both enriched and inspired to better invest your own intangible balance sheet. As always, we wish you and your family continued truth, beauty and goodness on the road ahead. The opinions voiced in the wisdom and wealth podcast or Josh clips for general information purposes only, and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Guests are not affiliated with Carson Wealth Management LLC. To determine what may be appropriate for you. Please consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Investment Advisory services are offered through CWM LLC and SEC registered investment advisor. All right dress locally is 7080. US landing Boulevard Suite five Saturday, The Woodlands, Texas 77380

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