"They ask such brilliant questions to me that almost break my brain," he said.

It's a good thing they are so sharp. The students are training in two of the most complicated academic fields — and soon, the University of Colorado will have a formal dual degree program to help them create treatments humanity has never before needed. 

The joint program between CU's aerospace engineering school and its school of medicine will teach medical students how to work in space.

"The demand for physicians who also, let's say, speak the language of engineering is rapidly growing in demand," Dr. Allie Anderson, an assistant professor of engineering, said.

Astronauts have typically been among the fittest of the fit, but an increase in space tourism means an increase in the number of ordinary folks going to space — and bringing their ordinary medical issues with them, making space medical experts more and more relevant.  

"We have always had really healthy individuals who have been sort of intentionally selected to be able to maintain their health in that environment, but we’re going to be really diversifying who we send into space," Allie Anderson said. 

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