|
Team Upstate:
I am writing this MEC Minute from a small community in Northern Thailand where my fascination for infectious diseases and viruses began more than 25 years ago. The month I spent here during my internal medicine residency at Walter Reed changed my life, professionally and personally. How this transformational moment occurred was simple, I met my mentor.
Dr. Tim Endy, former Chief of Infectious Diseases and Chair of Microbiology & Immunology at SUNY Upstate, was an Army officer stationed in Thailand and was just about to start a groundbreaking prospective dengue cohort study. I had arrived in Bangkok a few days before the study was to start and Dr. Endy asked if I would like to tag along and learn about viral diseases and clinical research. I said, "Yes," and that was that. Tim has been my mentor ever since and I have acquired many more over the years.
In my mind, very few things benefit a person more profoundly and tangibly than finding and keeping good mentors. And the beauty of medicine and education is that we will all have the opportunity to someday take on mentees of our own. I told the Norton College of Medicine class of 2026 during my remarks at their white coat ceremony to find their mentors, I wonder how many have?
Take a minute to read this week's NEJM perspective on mentors, it may just inspire you.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2313304?query=TOC&cid=NEJM+eToc%2C+February+22%2C+2024+DM2326211_NEJM_Non_Subscriber&bid=2111710100
Thanks for reading.
Stephen
|
