The Medicine Mentors Podcast

Interviewing physician leaders to tap into their wisdom

Dialing the Mentorship Crisis Call with Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes 11/15/2024

Dialing the Mentorship Crisis Call with Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes Diane Reidy-Lagunes, MD, is the Vice Chair of Oncology Operations, Regional Cancer Network at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In the past, she has served as the President of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Medical Staff. Dr. Reidy-Lagunes’ primary focus is treating gastrointestinal cancers and developing methods to integrate molecular-based therapies into the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors, as well as designing and conducting clinical trials to better treatment strategies for patients with this uncommon cancer type. At a national level, she is a member of the National Cancer Institute neuroendocrine tumor task force and the Neuroendocrine Tumor Biospecimen Consortium. She is also the Creator and Host of Cancer Straight Talk Podcast which brings together national experts and patients with cancer to have straightforward, evidence-based conversations. "I was caring for an amazing woman who understood her sickness, but her husband was upset. She often asked him to leave the room when she spoke with the medical team. She ultimately opted for hospice and passed away after three months. Her husband called and said that I killed his wife. I didn't hear anything for a few months, and then, one Saturday morning, a floor head nurse calls and says, ‘Dr. Reidy, there's a protest outside and they have your picture on the poster.' I wanted to die...I couldn't get over that this was happening. I immediately called my mentor Dr. Lenny Saltz....” Join us for this special episode with oncologist and host of the Cancer Straight Talk Podcast Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes as she shares the impact mentors can have, not only professionally, but in dealing with major life crises. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Let passion lead your innovation. Anybody can have a smart idea, but actually executing on the plan and following up takes passion. Passion takes commitment so it’s important to ask yourself if you’re happy with where you’re at in life and where you’ll be in 5-10 years. 2. Innovation is not just coming up with a new plan for something, it takes building and testing. If you’re told that your idea won’t work but you believe in it, try it out and see if the final product doesn’t change minds. 3. Sometimes we can think of teamwork as the opposite of leadership, but true teamwork and true leadership both have the same thing in common; groups of people working together toward a singular goal. Good leadership and good teamwork come from setting good examples for each other. 4. In your career as a physician, you’ll make mistakes or be blamed for things out of your control. It’s important in these moments to have people you can call for clarity, but also to know that mistakes are portals to discovery and action. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/33941147

Define your Legacy with Dr. Rachna Shroff 10/15/2024

Connecting the Science with the Patient with Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee 08/29/2024

Connecting the Science with the Patient with Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee Elizabeth Jaffee, MD, is an internationally recognized expert in cancer immunology and pancreatic cancer. She is the Deputy Director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Co-director of the Skip Viragh Center for Pancreatic Cancer and Associate Director of the Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Her research focuses on developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer. Dr. Jaffee is a past president of AACR. She has served on a number of committees at the National Cancer Institute including the Co-chair of the Biden Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel which identified high research priorities for the NCI. “You can be an amazing scientist, but what's most important is that whatever you do in science has implications for the patient.” From being inspired by Dr. Marie Curie’s biography as a child to now becoming one of the leading names in pancreatic cancer research internationally, Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee helps us re-focus on the patient and our role as ‘physician’ scientists. Tune in to this episode of The Medicine Mentors as we journey with Dr. Jaffee to connect the science with the patient. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Regardless of the direction we take in our professional journey, we have to keep the implications of our actions and research focused on our patients and how we can help them. 2. While leadership is a forefront activity and mentorship an educational activity, both can be thought of as similar in that you’re helping someone become the best version of themselves. That means taking into account each individual’s strengths and weaknesses and tailoring that to the intended outcome. 3. Don’t have just one mentor. It’s futile hoping that one person can teach you everything you’ll need to know. Find a network of individuals that can help you, which starts by putting yourself out there as someone who wants to do more and wants help. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/32798342

Put Your Feet in the Water with Dr. Robert Mayer 07/15/2024

Put Your Feet in the Water with Dr. Robert Mayer Robert Mayer, MD, is the Faculty Vice President for Academic Affairs at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Stephen B. Kay Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, where he serves as the Faculty Associate Dean for Admissions. He directed the Dana Farber’s Medical Oncology Fellowship Program for over thirty years, overseeing the training of several hundred oncologists and established the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Mayer is a past president of American Society of Clinical Oncology and has been a recipient of numerous awards including ASCO’s Distinguished Achievement Award and the prestigious Giants of Cancer Care award. “Medicine is complicated now, [but] it's still the basic principle of people caring for people, trying to do good and making their lives better. I always tell people, ‘Put your feet in the water and see what there might be.’ Try different things; don't think you know the answer before you really have a chance to see what all the opportunities are. When people give you a chance, take an interest in you, advise you, or guide you, say yes, listen, and go for it. Those are opportunities that are very special.” Having been provided rare opportunities by his mentors, Dr. Robert Mayer now does the same for his mentees. Tune into this episode of The Medicine Mentors to learn more. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Availability is the key value of implementing a patient-first attitude because we have less time to get to know the patient and yet still have a responsibility to build the same level of comfort for their care. 2. Instead of looking for success in accolades and accomplishments, true success for physicians is knowing your patients and treating them over time. Caring for someone and keeping them priority means being a successful physician. 3. If somebody takes a chance on us, the least we can do is put our foot in the water and say yes, because those are opportunities that are very special. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/32095067

A Physician-Leader’s Mindset with Dr. Charles Sorenson 05/20/2024

A Physician-Leader’s Mindset with Dr. Charles Sorenson Charles W. Sorenson, MD, is the President and CEO Emeritus of Intermountain Healthcare and the Founding Director of the Intermountain Healthcare Leadership Institute. Intermountain Healthcare is a not-for-profit system of 33 hospitals (including virtual hospitals), a Medical Group with more than 3,800 physicians and advanced practice clinicians at about 385 clinics. Prior to that, he served for eleven years as Intermountain’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Currently he serves as an Executive Coach at MEDI, the largest executive coaching firm in the nation dedicated exclusively to the healthcare industry. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah. He has been noted amongst 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare. “Be capable, be affable, and be available. You've got to first become a very capable physician, and just going to medical school or even doing residency doesn't do it. So, do your best to become a doctor's doctor.” Dr. Charles Sorenson, the Founding Director of Intermountain Healthcare Leadership Institute, has been at the forefront of medicine’s leadership for decades now. Join us in this episode of The Medicine Mentors as Dr. Charles Sorenson shares his transformation from being a surgeon to becoming an influential healthcare leader, the elements needed for tomorrow’s physician leader, and how to be a force of trust in healthcare. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Try to employ a ‘success without side effects’ mentality, where putting the interests of your patients before your own becomes the point of success and not whatever outcome you expected. 2. A professional is one who is cognisant of how they affect a team or a patient. The patient’s best interest is also a professional’s best interest. 3. A leader doesn’t always need a professional title or role. Learn to lead in the role you have now. In other words, learn to harness the referent power you have everyday to influence and change things for the better. Improve upon your character and competence follows. 4. Leadership means being affable, available, and capable. Being affable means having the humility to recognize your own limitations and knowing when to seek out advice or help. Being available means saying yes to opportunities and being open to risk. Being capable means to not only be a competent physician but learning to be a ‘doctor’s doctor.’ /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/31348822

It Takes Two To Tango with Dr. Konstantinos Arnaoutakis 05/03/2024

Learning What’s Not in the Chart with Dr. Yelena Janjigian 04/26/2024

Spirituality in Medicine with Dr. Tyler Johnson 04/05/2024

Spirituality in Medicine with Dr. Tyler Johnson Tyler Johnson, MD, is a physician, author, educator, and humanitarian. He is a medical oncologist at Stanford University. He leads Stanford’s inpatient oncology services, and is one of the principal faculty members of the Stanford Educators-4-CARE program. Dr. Johnson is an author with a growing reputation for insightful analysis of the intersection of medicine, ethics, and spirituality; his writings have been featured by Religion News Service, the Salt Lake Tribune, BYU Studies, Dialogue, and The San Jose Mercury News. Dr. Johnson co-hosts "The Doctor's Art," the world's leading podcast dedicated to the examination of humanism in medicine. “There is an element to [being a physician] that you just can’t find good words to describe other than things like spiritual and sacred.” While some have trouble finding the right words for it, Dr. Tyler Johnson provides us with a great one - ineffable. Tune in to an enlightening discussion with author, educator, host of ‘The Doctor’s Art’, and medical oncologist at Stanford University, Dr. Johnson, as we explore the ineffable side of medicine that drives us. Join us as we tap into the spiritual side of medicine, find out why kneeling and being eye-level to a patient can “puncture the aura of arrogance,” and why “we have to hold a space for mystery within medicine” to keep our passion from extinguishing. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Treat rigorously but care tenderly. In order to care we must relate, and a quick way to puncture the aura of arrogance typified with a doctor is to kneel at a patient’s bedside, or at least be eye level. Seeing someone eye to eye communicates a message that says I’m here to serve you. 2. On the path to achieving great heights, don’t forget to remember the permanent things like relationships and the journey that sustain you. Your promotion or job will not love you back. 3. It doesn’t have to be a church or an organization but lend yourself to a group that holds you accountable to a higher power or standard than yourself. Connect with something bigger than yourself that makes you reflect upon your actions in ways you don’t already. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/30691163

Leading by Listening with Dr. Marcel van den Brink 03/08/2024

Leading by Listening with Dr. Marcel van den Brink Marcel van den Brink, MD, is the Head and Alan N. Houghton Chair of the Division of Hematologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is internationally renowned for his work in the field of bone marrow transplantation, the gut microbiome, and immunotherapy. He is also the Co-Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and Chairman of the Board of DKMS, an international nonprofit organization devoted to bone marrow donor registration. He is a recipient of numerous prestigious awards and is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and he has been elected to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences for his contributions in the field of hematologic malignancies. “Finding solutions is often as simple as shutting up and listening to what people formulate as the problem and what they have thought of as the answer. Without fail, I’m surprised that they’ve got something better than I could have come up with.” Join us in this episode of The Medicine Mentors where Chairman of Heme Malignancies at MSKCC, Dr. Marcel van den Brink, shares tips of effective leadership. Tune in as we learn about the five-minute ‘no talking, only listening’ rule at the start of meetings and why the best leaders find comfort in not knowing everything. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. We will be leaders before we know it, and the simple formula of leadership is listening. When we conduct meetings, all we have to do is be quiet for the first five minutes and listen. 2. To know when we are ready to move on to the next stage, the next level, we have to know what we don’t know, that is, do we know how to prioritize what matters, and if not, are we ready to seek help for it? 3. Failure and success often follow a 9:1 ratio, and so, to increase our chances of success, we should try our hands in different endeavors to see where we can truly shine. 4. Just like listening is the pathway to leadership, respect is the pathway to teamwork, and we should be mindful of it in our day-to-day interactions. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/30285278

Learning Independence Through Mentorship with Dr. Saby George 01/23/2024

Learning Independence Through Mentorship with Dr. Saby George Saby George, MD, FACP, is a Professor of Oncology and Medicine within the Department of Medicine and Director of Network Clinical Trials at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is a prominent clinical investigator in the kidney cancer space. Dr George is passionate about teaching and mentoring and is a champion advocate for his fellows. “I was lucky enough to work with some great mentors and envisioned a career I’d like.” Illustrating the power of mentorship, we sit down with Dr. Saby George in a discussion on mentorship, best practices for researchers, and why it’s important for mentors to be unselfish and encourage independence. Join us on another empowering episode of the Medicine Mentors, as we dive into the fine print of mentorship from a master researcher and lauded mentor. Tune in as Dr. George shares with us the mentors that helped guide him to the position he’s in now, how he actively champions mentees by offering independent opportunities, and how the best piece of advice he got was simply to be more patient. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. When looking for success in medicine, you must look at the legacy you’re leaving behind. Mentorship helps us create an environment that continuously strives to push the field forward and leave behind a track-record of improving. 2. A few things to keep in mind when looking for mentors are: competing interests between a mentor and mentee should be avoided, and entering the relationship with honesty and truthfulness will prove to provide a strong relationship. 3. When identifying the traits of a great mentor, you should be able to see that your mentor is invested in seeing you succeed, is unselfish, and able to give honest feedback along with reasonable goals and expectations. 4. While it can be comfortable to work under the supervision of a mentor, a good mentee should seek out opportunities for growth and independence. Your mentor should provide you with roles and opportunities that help you feel comfortable in your skin. 5. A small but often overlooked detail for clinical and basic science researchers is to make sure you’re setting realistic timelines and following through. Especially for conferences or studies, be sure to follow through and stay persistent. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/29589808

Communicating the Nonverbal with Dr. Enrico Novelli 01/16/2024

Communicating the Nonverbal with Dr. Enrico Novelli Enrico Novelli MD, is a classical (benign) hematologist, the Section Chief of the Benign Hematology, and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He is the Medical Director of the UPMC Adult Sickle Cell Disease Program. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Milan, Italy in 1996. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University, where he developed expertise in cellular biology and gene therapy. Subsequently, he pursued his residency and fellowship at UPMC, where he joined as faculty after graduating. He has numerous publications about vascular dysfunction in sickle cell disease and serves as a scientific reviewer for many journals, the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. “It’s an important component of mentoring; things you may not necessarily teach formally but that you can communicate through nonverbal behavior.” Illustrating the importance of learning “beyond our horizons” through mentors who showed him lessons outside of the classroom, Dr. Enrico Novelli joins us in another episode of The Medicine Mentors. Tune in as we learn about his journey from Italy to the States and how he continues to lead by showing “optimism, excitement, and faith” in every mentoring opportunity. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. It’s easy to feel stuck in a situation but with new experiences come new perspectives, be sure to broaden your horizons and seek new challenges on your journey. 2. A good mentoring relationship requires a fine balance of two energies. A mentor should inspire passion and curiosity while remaining on the sidelines, and a mentee must be receptive to feedback and be coachable in order to grow. 3. It’s important to ask yourself sooner rather than later what your long-term career goals are. Finding a niche can require some experimentation, especially in academia. No matter the direction, success requires a plan. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/29489258

Growing With Intention with Dr. Natasha Chida 01/05/2024

Growing With Intention with Dr. Natasha Chida Natasha Chida, MD, MSPH, is the Myron L. Weisfeldt Professor of Medicine, Director of the Osler Medical Residency Program and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Chida earned her MD and MPH from University of Miami where she stayed on to complete her internal medicine residency prior to coming to Hopkins to pursue a fellowship in Infectious Diseases. A passionate clinician educator, Dr. Chida has served on many national education committees for the ACGME and Infectious Diseases Society of America. She is passionate about career development for physicians-in-training, the advancement of women in medicine, and how to best train residents and fellows in HIV care. “Being intentional around what you want to accomplish is helpful because it prevents you from spinning off into something that you don’t really care about or want to do.” Today we learn the art of building our mission statement and the science of staying true to it with Dr. Natasha Chida, Director of Osler Residency Program at Johns Hopkins. Tune in as Dr. Chida shares tips on identifying our true north, utilizing the village of mentors around us, and most importantly growing with intention to get the most out of our training years. Ultimately “if you know what your mission is and if you feel like you’re fulfilling it, that to me is success.” Pearls of Wisdom: 1. In order to make the right decisions you need to know your mission. Whether that’s been instilled in you since childhood or comes through new inspirations, balance is all about clarifying your mission. 2. When figuring out what your mission is, look back at your best and worst days. Piece out what happened in both that made them good or bad. Seek out the activities that bring you joy and be sure to re-evaluate when necessary. 3. In order to make the most out of any mentoring relationship, you must be intentional. Yes, they want to help you but you need to be able to define what you’re looking to achieve and proactively monitor that as they help you on the journey. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/29304233

Defining Success with Dr. Margaret Tempero 12/27/2023

Defining Success with Dr. Margaret Tempero Margaret Tempero, MD, is an internationally renowned expert in pancreatic cancer, a Professor of Medicine and Director of the Pancreas Center at the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center. She organized the first Pancreas Cancer Think Tank in 1999 and chairs The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's (PanCAN) Scientific and Medical Advisory Board. She was recently inducted into the prestigious Giants of Cancer Care. A thought leader in cancer, she is a former president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Pancreatic Association and currently serves on the ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Board. She also serves as the Editor of Chief of Journal of National Comprehensive Cancer Network. “I remember asking a mentor of mine, ‘What does success mean?’” In her mind, Dr. Margaret Tempero expected an obvious answer: Some prestigious designation, a decorated award, maybe some groundbreaking research to her name; but when Dr. Ann Kessinger responded with the most fundamental truth of medicine, it revolutionized her medical philosophy to its core: “You're successful when you're improving the lives of your patients, plain and simple.” Join us for another episode of The Medicine Mentors as Dr. Margaret Tempero shares the true definition of success in medicine, teaches us how to improve the lives of our patients, and emphasizes getting to know the patient as a person before we know them by their disease. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Success in medicine is found when you’re improving the lives of your patients. Regardless of how you do it, the patient must be the first and center focus. 2. Get to know your patient as a person before you know them as a disease. It’s as simple as asking them to tell you about themselves. Know the patient so you can help cater your discussion to a field that they understand. 3. Mentorship can be thought of like tennis; a bidirectional process where if your opponent is better, you do better. Mentees have to bring the full initiative to the mentor so they can play back. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/29237743

Resolving Mentorship Conflicts with Dr. Supriya Gupta Mohile 12/26/2023

Finding Balance During Rush Hour with Dr. Annie Im 12/12/2023

Finding Balance During Rush Hour with Dr. Annie Im Annie Im, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is also the Program Director for Hematology & Oncology Fellowship program. Her research is focused in hematologic malignancies, drug development, stem cell transplantation, and graft-versus-host-disease. She received her medical degree from Stony Brook School of Medicine in New York, and then completed both her residency in internal medicine and her hematology/oncology fellowship from UPMC. “I think the most impressive thing is when a physician can make you feel like you’re the most important person in that moment.” Encouraging us to go the extra mile for patients by being present, Dr. Annie Im joins us in this episode of the Medicine Mentors as we discuss the fine details of empowering patients by giving them our full presence. Tune in as Dr. Im spreads the message of staying present for all parts of our lives, reminding us that we won’t escape the rush hour busyness of physician life but that by being present we can learn to find a balance that works for any given moment. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Even though you might be busy in your day, your patients will remember you as you are in the time that you meet with them. So be sure to stay focused and present so they can feel like they’re the most important person to you at that moment. 2. When finding a work-life balance, think of it like rush hour traffic. Sometimes it will be easy to balance things and move with ease, but it’s important to know that there will be times in your career when work or your personal life will take precedence and need more attention. The key is to find balance in all of those phases. 3. Whether it’s research, personal life, or career trajectory, mentors don’t all come with the same expertise so be sure to find a variety of mentors that can help you in each part of your life. 4. The onus is on the mentee to reach out to a mentor so when looking out for hiccups in the relationship, stay empathetic and realize that a mentor will have their own business and may not tend to every need. Long lasting relationships require work but pay off in the long run. 5. Successful people are those that find their drive through passion. Seeing that extra patient and going the extra mile isn’t just about dedication but also passion. When working passionately, things like burnout and work-life balance become easy. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/28459130

Passion, Persistence, and Patience with Dr. Robert Brodsky 11/15/2023

Passion, Persistence, and Patience with Dr. Robert Brodsky Robert Brodsky, MD, is a world-renowned hematologist and the current Director of the Division of Hematology, as well as Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. He focuses on bone marrow failure states, specifically the use of bone marrow transplants in sickle cell disease and aplastic anemia. His lab studies complement mediated disorders and he has also developed the diagnostic assay that is used to diagnose PNH around the world. Dr. Brodsky is a recipient of numerous national awards and was recently elected as the President of the American Society of Hematology, the largest professional society of hematologists in the world. “I remember driving down 83. I just couldn't wait to get into work…that excitement, that flutter in your heart, that's what defines success for me.” A sentiment passed down through now three generations of hematologists, Dr. Robert Brodsky, Director of the Division of Hematology at Johns Hopkins and President of the American Society of Hematology, joins us for a grounding conversation. Tune in as we dive into the leaders that showed him what it truly means to love your job, how asking the right research questions is the biggest predictor of success, and why it takes decades to build a career that’s worth having. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Work-life balance is not every day. That is a critical distinction to understand, that overall, our lives should be balanced, but it's not an expectation we should come to work with every day. We should try to achieve the work-life balance globally, but not in a day-to-day, hour-to-hour fashion. 2. What is one of the biggest predictors of success? We connect it to the purpose behind the project: the Research Question. That's going to start the journey and create the flutter for us to come to work and pursue something that's actually going to have a meaningful change. 3. Life is likely to get more complicated as we move forward. The difficulty levels keep going up as we go to the next level, and therefore, if there's not a strong force driving us, we should not get to the next level just for the sake of getting there. It should be to reach an ultimate goal. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/28563902

A Balancing Act with Dr. Amy Jones 10/25/2023

A Balancing Act with Dr. Amy Jones Amy Jones, MD, is the Program Director of Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She also serves as the Medical Director of the Inpatient Hematology-Oncology Unit for the Parkland Health & Hospital System. She is a founding Co-Chair of the Parkland Cancer Improvement Committee and a recipient of the Niarchos Grant for Quality Improvement through ASCO. She serves on the Cancer in People with HIV/Kaposi Sarcoma Panel of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Dr. Jones has delivered a number of invited lectures and published numerous academic articles, and she serves as a course director for medical education at the fellowship and medical student levels. “You can be a mom and hang out with your kids, have a husband who loves smoking meat, and still be a complete boss at work.” Between brisket and directing the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program at UT Southwestern, Dr. Amy Jones teaches us a thing or two about keeping our hearts and minds full. Join us in this motivating episode with Dr. Jones, as she takes us through her earliest inspirations and how they’ve instilled in her a sense of service while making sure she has time to fill her own cup. Tune in as we talk about recharging our batteries and leaning on mentors, learning how to take charge as a mentee keeping your torch lit, and why it’s crucial to be able to tell your story. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. A good mentee is one that is honest about what they want and can take their goals across the finish line. Drive the relationship even when it’s uncomfortable because that’s what it takes for success. 2. When looking to the future, ask yourself what you dream of in a job and what your day-to-day life might look like. Write a letter that starts with who you are and what you’ve done, ending with where you’re going and how you’ll get there. 3. Balance is key for a long career. Because you have an ability to give back you also have the responsibility to serve, but in order to serve you have to be able to care for yourself, too. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/28393772

Going Further Together with Dr. Adam Brufsky 10/17/2023

Looking Back to Move Forward with Dr. Ralph Hruban 10/11/2023

Looking Back to Move Forward with Dr. Ralph Hruban Ralph Hruban, MD, is a world-renowned pancreatic cancer pathology expert. He serves as the Baxley Professor and Director of the Department of Pathology, and Director of the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins University. He co-founded the National Familial Pancreas Tumor Registry at Johns Hopkins in 1994, created an award-winning iPad application to teach pancreas pathology and an iPad and iPhone app for patients with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Hruban has authored more than 850 peer-reviewed manuscripts and ten books, including the standard textbook on pancreatic pathology (the AFIP Fascicle on Tumors of the Pancreas) and the World Health Organization “blue book” on tumors of the digestive tract. He has received numerous awards including the PanCAN Medical Visionary Award and the Ruth C. Brufsky Award of Excellence in Clinical Research for Pancreatic Cancer. How did modern medicine get to where it is today? As much as it’s about scientific advances, it’s just as much about the people who overcame extreme hardships and helped forge not only advances in diagnostics and medicine, but also values and ethics of the medical profession. In this episode, Dr. Ralph Hruban highlights some of the pioneers of early American medicine from his new book, A Scientific Revolution: Ten Men and Women Who Reinvented American Medicine. Listen in as Dr. Hruban provides a fascinating glimpse into the trials and tribulations of America’s medical founders who played a fundamental role in transforming medicine from a trade into a science. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Not taking no for answer is the ultimate quintessential quality that we have seen in all of these medical pioneers who have been faced with hardships. 2. It’s important to reflect on where science would be today had the barriers of racism and sexism not been present. 3. Our current medical mentors fill an important role but there’s also value in historical mentors that help remind us of the medical professionals we aspire to be like. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/28273436

Mentorship: The Holy Grail of Medicine with Dr. Pier Paolo Scaglioni 10/06/2023

Escaping the Bunker Mentality with Dr. Janet Abrahm 10/04/2023

Be Present, Passionate, and Purposeful with Dr. Richard Riedel 09/29/2023

Be Present, Passionate, and Purposeful with Dr. Richard Riedel Richard Francis Riedel, M.D., is the Program Director for the Duke Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program and Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at Duke University Medical Center where he also serves as an Associate Director for Clinical and Translational Research for the Duke Sarcoma Program. An internationally renowned sarcoma expert, Dr. Riedel has a clinical and research interest in identifying novel therapeutics for patients with soft tissue and bone sarcoma. He is active in many national bodies including the Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration and has taken an active role in developing the NCCN guideline committees for sarcoma. “Choosing a mentor is probably the most important decision you’ll make during fellowship. In the sense that your mentor will then become a peer, an advocate, and someone who opens doors for you.” Having guided hundreds of trainees, Dr. Richard Riedel joins us in this episode of the Medicine Mentors for a retrospective look at his journey and some tips he’s learned along the way. Tune in as Dr. Riedel shares with us the importance of working with the three Ps in mind: being present, passionate, and purposeful; recognizing that a mentoring relationship is a two-way street; and how to realize success in the small accomplishments everyday. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. As a physician, your first major relationships are with patients. Given the short time you may have with them, take time to listen rather than speak. Engage with your patients and empathize with their worries to create room for stronger relationships. 2. The life of a physician can be stressful, taxing, and time-consuming. While you might think you’re the only one in the boat, your family and loved ones ride along with you whether you know or not. Dedicating time for your family is important to stay balanced with physicianship. 3. Mentoring relationships can be what you make of them but their potential is limitless and can stretch a lifetime with the right people. Be sure to choose wisely and find a mentor that not only advocates for you, but that you admire professionally and personally. 4. Whether it’s clinic based research or advocacy, achieving a broader goal of good in society requires the big three Ps: present, passionate, purposeful. If you love what you do every moment is appreciated, but it’s also important to ensure that time is aligned with your goals. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/28144382

The Secret Sauce of Seeking Advice with Dr. Melissa Accordino 09/20/2023

Nurturing Integrity and Authenticity with Dr. Pamela Munster 09/15/2023

Mentoring Leaders, Not Shadows with Dr. Robert J. Soiffer 09/05/2023

The Resilient Doctor with Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz 08/25/2023

The Resilient Doctor with Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, FACP, is a Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine, J. Terrence Lanni Chair in Cancer Research, Section Head of GI Oncology and Co-Director of the Colorectal Center at the University of Southern California. He also serves as the Deputy Director for Research at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Lenz is a physician-scientist known for his work on the pharmacogenomics of GI cancers. He is a member of several professional societies, including the AACR & AGA and serves on the National Advisory Board of a number of professional organizations. Dr. Lenz is the Co-Chair of the GI Committee and Correlative Science Committee for SWOG. He has published over 450 peer reviewed manuscripts. He has been listed in the Best Doctors’ database since 2003. “You need to be very resilient and always dream big. Don't limit yourself with boundaries.” Why is resilience so important for a physician? Early in his career, Dr. Lenz was told that he cannot make it as a researcher by his superior; the only response Dr. Lenz had was, "I will show you." Looking ahead a few years, Dr. Lenz is now a highly renowned researcher and clinician with many accolades to his name. Join us on another episode of Medicine Mentors where we discuss core values a physician must exhibit, the success factor of effective mentors, and what it means to be an influential physician-leader with Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Learn to be open-minded. Always be relentless and resilient in your pursuits. Explore different diversities with the right mindset and maximize your potential. 2. A successful mentor can instill a sense of accountability in their mentees, making sure they know that great things are expected of them. 3. A leader’s job is to maximize the existing potential of the group and eliminate the gaps and weak links by recognizing talent and assigning appropriate roles. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/27777339

Mentoring Tomorrow's Leaders Today with Dr. Grace Makari-Judson 08/18/2023

Mentoring Tomorrow's Leaders Today with Dr. Grace Makari-Judson Grace Makari-Judson, MD, is a Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at UMass Chan Medical School, Baystate. She is also the Co-Director of The Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research, and Chair of the Baystate Health Breast Network and Baystate Regional Cancer Program. She is known as an educator, speaking at forums for both medical and lay audiences and also serves as the Principal Investigator of the Breast Research Registry to provide opportunities for translational research and of numerous clinical trials to enhance care. “You always have to take advantage of relationships, even if you don’t necessarily know who those people are that you’re collaborating with. You just have to be open to it.” Joined by her own mentee, Dr. Prarthana Bhardwaj who rose to that very challenge, we sat down with Dr. Grace Makari Judson in a discussion on mentorship, taking chances, and staying enthusiastic. Tune in as we dive into the details of mentorship from both sides, gain insight into the specific pitfalls of bad mentoring relationships, and why it’s important to learn from your surroundings and take chances when they’re afforded. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Stay open to new opportunities because your path is ever-changing and we can gain so much from learning around us and exploring different experiences. But be sure to instill a foundation of excellence so when that time comes you’re ready. 2. A great mentor is somebody who’s invested in your growth. They can be sponsors, teachers, or advocates. But be sure to find one that can set an agenda, meet with you frequently, and share beneficial opportunities with you. 3. A great mentee is one who shares enthusiasm about the work and jumps on opportunities presented to them. 4. As physicians, we need to be aware of our own personal biases when caring for patients by reminding ourselves that we’re there to empower them. Rather than relating to their issues, empathize and find out what’s best for them. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/27689448

The P.A.U.S.E. Protocol with Dr. George Weiner 08/15/2023

Listen to the Social History with Dr. Karen Ballen 08/11/2023

Supporting a Continuum of Mentorship with Dr. Renuka Iyer 08/04/2023

Supporting a Continuum of Mentorship with Dr. Renuka Iyer Renuka Iyer, MD, is a Professor of Oncology, Section Chief for Gastrointestinal Oncology and Co-Leader of Liver and Pancreas Tumor program at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University at Buffalo. She is also the Vice Chair of Faculty Recruitment and Retention in the Department of Medicine. She is a world renowned authority on Neuroendocrine Tumors. She was recently awarded the Mark R. Clements Award, for Vision Innovation and Collaboration from the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. “If it’s in my power to make something happen and I don’t, then I’ve failed them.” Having found her own path with the help of mentors that encouraged her, Dr. Renuka Iyer shares challenges and hurdles that helped make her into the mentor, professor, and researcher she is today. Tune in to this special episode of The Medicine Mentors at ASCO 2023 as we learn from Dr. Iyer how to be better mentees and people by working hard and keeping our word, why studying woodchucks helped her understand that challenges are opportunities for exploration and discovery, and how mentorship can be a lifelong continuum of support. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Try not to pigeonhole the idea of a mentor. You can find mentorship from anyone as long as they care about your future and want to help; stay open to diverse forms of mentorship. 2. When you run into a wall, don’t be quick to give up. Work around obstacles and reach out to find new answers. As Dr. Iyer says, “necessity can be the mother of invention.” 3. Not only does a good mentee respect their mentor’s time, but they recognize the value of vulnerability. Sharing your insecurities and fears with a mentor means you’re asking for help and growing. The other part of that is following through with agreements and tasks. 3. Find a balance between work and your own life. Find a support system that allows you to feel good about work and nourished at home. Your job is to care for others but that requires taking care of yourself first. /episode/index/show/themedicinementors/id/27646635

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