MADISON (WMSN) -- A Madison doctor shares why he became a periontologist.

What many of his patients don't realize is that he was born premature himself.

Today, with much more medical advancements, Doctor Stafeil is saving more premies, like himself.

"Now its not as severe as it was 30 years ago. According to my mom the doctors gave me a 50% chance of survival," said Dr. Brian Stafeil, Dean and St. Mary's Physician.

"Hearing my parents talk about it and hearing their re-telling of the storis of how small I was and how nervous they were and first saw me thought I looked terrible and my dad was like he looks 100% better than the day before cause my mom didnt see me," said Dr. Stafeil.

Periontologist Brian Stafeil is walking though the same hospital his family did more than 30 years ago, now he's helping the same families as his own - trying to get help for their premature child.

"It wasn't really until medical school that I thought about OB more heavily when I took care of a lot of patients with pre term labor I really made that connection and my experience of being born at 30 weeks added a lot to that picture and through medical school really enjoyed the OB and it prompted me to do that for my residency," said Dr. Stafeil.

Dr. Stafeil shows parents other than getting his eyes checked for sensitivity growing up, he had no effects from being born just 4 pounds 6 ounces.

There have been a lot of advances. Today, the same baby born 10 weeks early has a 96% chance of survival, compared to doctor stafeil's 50%.