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I’ve had conversations with five colleagues this week who expressed musings or firm intention to leave their work in clinical or academic medicine behind this week.
Trying to process that tonight. 1/
Trying to process that tonight. 1/
In year 1 of med school I had aspirations to be a neurosurgeon. I spent three summers with Dr. Krishna Kumar, a leader in the emerging areas of spinal cord stimulation and vertebroplasty.
I sought out his approval voraciously, and worked by his side for most of those summers. /2
I sought out his approval voraciously, and worked by his side for most of those summers. /2
He was a generous teacher. Put my name on presentations I helped design. He’d invite me to scrub into surgeries not because I was useful, but because he wanted to feed my curiosity.
Days I forgot my lunch he’d share fresh veggies sliced at his office desk. He loved radishes. /3
Days I forgot my lunch he’d share fresh veggies sliced at his office desk. He loved radishes. /3
Dr. Kumar would wake up at 4AM and work on presentations. Hospital by 6AM. OR and rounds until late in the evening. He was in his 70’s and still doing surgeries that could last the whole work day (this was before age restrictions on practice).
His life was medicine. /4
His life was medicine. /4
2nd year med school I met the woman who’d eventually become my wife. After becoming a couple a year later, we began spending a lot more time together.
Dr. Kumar noticed I was distracted and asked me if my interest had waned in neurosurgery. /5
Dr. Kumar noticed I was distracted and asked me if my interest had waned in neurosurgery. /5
I told him about her. He was happy for me. He placed his hand on my should and leaned in with eyes that seemed a little bit more alive than they’d been just a few moments before.
“Don’t sacrifice your life on the altar of medicine.”
Then he walked away. /6
“Don’t sacrifice your life on the altar of medicine.”
Then he walked away. /6
Dr. Kumar never discussed that statement with me again. At the end of that summer, my wife told me she didn’t want me to be in such a demanding surgical specialty.
“Don’t sacrifice your life on the altar of medicine.”
She felt very strongly about it.
I chose her. /7
“Don’t sacrifice your life on the altar of medicine.”
She felt very strongly about it.
I chose her. /7
Luckily I discovered Anesthesia. 
/8
/8
I hope Dr. Kumar would be proud of the choices I made.
To colleagues thinking about leaving medicine, I give you his same advice.
Despite the gifts this profession has given us, there are also many broken lives.
We need to change this system. /End
To colleagues thinking about leaving medicine, I give you his same advice.
Despite the gifts this profession has given us, there are also many broken lives.
We need to change this system. /End
