UP FRONT
Pulling Back the Curtain : Brady Stein , MD
shortage of people entering this field . We could certainly use more in the academic world .
I ’ ve been away from the institution for about seven years , yet all of them remain excellent mentors .
I am also fortunate to have supportive colleagues at Northwestern , including Anaa Zakarija MD ; David Green , MD ; Hau Kwaan , MD ; Karlyn Martin , MD ; Brandon McMahon , MD ( now at University of Colorado ); and John Crispino , PhD . These colleagues have provided a sounding board for discussing challenging cases , helped edit manuscripts , offered career guidance , and collaborated on research endeavors .
I ’ ve also had the privilege of receiving external mentoring . Ruben Mesa , MD , has shared many opportunities with me . I am very grateful for his support and guidance through my academic career . I didn ’ t train with him , and I only met him when we shared the podium at a patient advocacy meeting , but he ’ s been extraordinarily helpful .
“ My father is a hematologist and I wanted to follow in his footsteps . ... While some fathers take their sons to a baseball game , [ mine ] took me to an ASH annual meeting .”
Did these mentors offer any specific advice ? It is more of a case of leading by example . As we go through our training and as we develop our careers , it may not be specific statements or phrases that stick with us , but the day-to-day encounters and the smaller things that we , as mentees , remember .
I also try to emulate the characteristics I admire in mentors : enthusiasm about their careers and scientific discovery , perseverance , reliability , dependability , and – above all – dedication to patient care .
Great mentors are always willing to help and are generous with their time . All the mentors I mentioned share these characteristics .
On a typical day , what is your rose and what is your thorn ? I enjoy the parts of my days when I can find a little quiet time to do some academic work . It might be only a small chunk of time , but if I can polish a presentation or edit a manuscript written by a resident , then that means it was a good , satisfying day . I also get great satisfaction from being in the room with patients .
All physicians respect the privilege and intimacy of the patient encounter – that ’ s not what we complain about . The problem we have is that greater portions of our time are being taken over by indirect patient care – such as charting or securing prior authorizations and approvals and denials from insurance companies . This is not unique to me ; everyone deals with the frustrations of paperwork and red tape .
In a larger sense , as physicians , we seem to be operating in an era when we have to justify our existence . Unfortunately , much of what we do in patient care ( talking with patients and their families or consulting with or advising colleagues ) is not included in measures of our productivity and relative value units . It can be discouraging to continually have to prove your worth , and walking out of the hospital feeling that weight is definitely the worst part of any day .
Navigating these barriers can also keep us from providing the best possible patient care . We might have a good idea for how to help a patient , but then we find out that the patient ’ s copay is enormous , and it represents a massive barrier to treatment . We want to spend time counseling patients and seeing them through illness , but there are other things that we must do to complement that work .
What do you like to do outside of work ? My wife and I have three kids , ages 10 , 8 , and 4 . My wife is also a physician , so you can imagine our dinner conversations . My 8-year-old daughter already knows how to make a diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia , so I suppose I ’ m continuing the tradition my father set by exposing my kids to medicine early on .
Tennis is becoming a larger part of our family life , too . I play on a traveling team , and my kids also play on a United States Tennis Association traveling team . I played a lot of tennis growing up , but I ’ m probably enjoying it now more than ever because I ’ m getting to watch my kids grow and develop in the game .
Is there one thing people would be surprised to learn about you ? I think people would be surprised to learn that I ’ m a big Grateful Dead fan . I ’ ve been a fan since my brother took me to my first concert when I was 15 years old .
That concert was also the start of a really strong bond between us , and we ’ ve tried to continue that tradition by going to a Grateful Dead-related concert every year .
Dr . Stein ’ s children , decked out in Pittsburgh Steelers gear .
We ’ ve seen many different parts of the country and many different formulations of the band . Along with tennis , it ’ s the most important hobby for me and a great outlet outside of work .
I am also a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan . This is probably upsetting to my Baltimore based – mentors and colleagues .
Who would be on your dream dinner party guest list , and what would you ask them ? At the risk of sounding less intellectual , I think it would be a pretty enjoyable dinner if Jerry Garcia or another member of the Grateful Dead was there . I think the Grateful Dead is an important part of American cultural history . I ’ m not sure what I would ask , though . I think I ’ d probably enjoy just listening to the many stories of experiences that members of the band have had over their 50-year career . I ’ ve been going to their concerts for the last 25 years , so it would be wonderful to thank them for the many great experiences .
Of course , there are many pioneers in the field of hematology who would be wonderful to have dinner with as well , but I have to give my honest answer . ●
10 ASH Clinical News August 2017