Pulling Back the Curtain: Martin S. Tallman, MD
Dr. Tallman with his wife, Wendy, and their four children
(Jacob, Sarah, Miriam, and Sam) at a Michigan football game.
to learn include: Jacob Rowe,
MD; Hillard Lazarus, MD; Selina
Luger, MD; Elisabeth Paietta,
PhD; and Mark Litzow, MD –
among many others.
Finally, I would say, “Shoot for
the stars in all of your endeavors.”
What have you learned
about yourself through your
career in medicine?
I’ve learned how essential it is
to make room for life outside
of work. It’s such a privilege
to be in medicine – caring for
patients, conducting research,
and trying to advance the field.
Academic medicine has become
very complicated; there’s an
enormous amount of paperwork,
and conducting clinical trials that
identify new drugs is becoming
more and more complex. There
has never been a more exciting
time to work in the field of
hematologic malignancies, but
it’s also never been easier to be
consumed by the work.
Life outside of work is just as
important. Making time for family
and friends provides an essential
balance. I have a great appreciation
for athletics, as well; I think it clears
the cobwebs from one’s mind.
Our children are grown now,
but when they were young, I tried
my best to be home as much as
possible. As many of us do, I
traveled frequently to meetings
in some beautiful locations, but
even if I had the opportunity to
14
ASH Clinical News
stay an extra day or two to explore
the area, I would try to limit the
sightseeing. I didn’t want to miss
out on any events in our children’s
lives – not so much for them, but
for me!
There was one thing that
made it easier: Wendy is a
wonderful partner in life and
has been a fantastic mother to
our four children. She runs our
“corporation,” as I like to call it –
she’s the president, the CEO, the
CFO, and everything in between.
When you interview
someone for a residency or
fellowship position, what
type of questions give you
the most insight into the
candidate?
Rather than asking a series of
specific predetermined questions
during an interview, I prefer to put
the paperwork aside and have a
conversation about their life and
interests.
I have very few prepared
questions, but sometimes ask,
“What might I find you doing
on a Saturday or Sunday at 1:00
o’clock?” It’s a way of learning
about their interests outside of
work – not just their academic
accomplishments. When you’re
recruiting an individual to join a
team, it’s important to get a feel
for the person. You want to know
more than his or her academic
track record; you want to know
how he or she will fit in.
In a typical day, what is your
rose and what is your thorn?
The best part of my day is going
home! I think I better explain that.
I have a major problem in life: I
married a wonderful cook, which
is a problem because I need to
constantly watch my waistline. It
appears to be an inherited culinary
talent gene – Wendy’s mother was
a great cook, her grandmother
was a great cook, and she’s a great
cook. Many recipes are handed
down over the generations. Wendy
is such a good cook, after eating
lunch we all stand up and ask,
“What’s for dinner?”
Every evening, after a long day I
look forward to having dinner with
Wendy and discussing the day’s
events. I usually ask her, “Any news
from the troops today?” During
the actual workday though, seeing
patients in the clinic is my favorite
part of the day. I also immensely
enjoy making daily teaching rounds
with house staff and fellows.
My least favorite part of the
day will resonate well with others
I believe: filling out uninteresting,
but obligatory, paperwork.
What accomplishment are
you most proud of in your
work life?
At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, I am fortunate to have the
opportunity to mentor and work
with outstanding fellows. I’m proud
to have contributed, in a small way,
to the education and development
of young hematologists and
oncologists who are the future of
our field. There is not much more
rewarding than that.
What is one thing most
people would be surprised
to learn about you?
Before I entered medical school, I
was in the University of Michigan
School of Music for a year as a
cellist. I was very active in music
growing up – which is why the job
at the Ravinia Festival was such a
terrific opportunity.
At one point, I considered
pursuing music as a profession,
but in the end, I didn’t think I
was talented enough to make it a
career. I always had an interest in
science, too, so after a year in the
School of Music, I transferre d into
the liberal arts college to complete
pre-med courses.
Did you grow up in a musical
household?
My mother was very musical, so
that probably played a role. My
brother Philip pursued music as
a career. He’s actually in show
business. He writes and arranges
music for film. His first major
breakthrough was as music editor
on The Notebook, and he’s in the
credits for Silver Linings Playbook
and The Hunger Games, among
other films.
What do you do in the offhours?
I enjoy playing tennis. I’m not
great, but I think it is the best
game in the world. I could use
some tips on my overhead smash.
If I would make the time, I’d
play the cello more often and
join a quartet or a community
orchestra.
If you could have a super
power, what would it be and
why?
I would love to transport myself
into the future to 100 years from
now to see how our daily lives
and medicine will have changed.
Thinking about all that has
transpired in the last 100 years in
hematology, I can only imagine
what could be coming in the next
100 years.
I understand the desire to go
back in time – I would like to have
dinner with Abraham Lincoln or
Paul Cezanne – but having the
ability to peer into the future has a
lot of appeal.
Who would play you in a
movie about your life?
I have been known to joke with
patients and ask, “Would you
believe me if I told you that I
am confused with Richard Gere
in airports?” But it’s true! My
children tell me it’s only because
we have the same salt-and-pepper
hair (Jacob feels obligated to add
“more salt than pepper!”). So, he’d
be my first choice. And then, of
course, my brother could score the
movie. ●
April 2016