Dittrich is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist and contributing editor at Esquire. In his first book, “Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, Madness, and Family Secrets,” he explores the scientific, ethical and human dimensions of one of the most important stories in the history of medicine. As contributing editor of Esquire, Dittrich’s on-the-job experiences include running a marathon in Antarctica and walking 340 miles along the United States/Mexico border. His articles have appeared in anthologies ranging from Best American Crime Writing to Best American Travel Writing to Best American Science and Nature Writing. In 2012, he received the National Magazine Award for feature writing, and is a frequent guest on radio and television programs like NPR’s Weekend Edition and NBC’s Today Show. “Patient H.M.” is a finalist for the 2016 L.A. Times Book Prize in Science & Technology.