BACK of the BOOK
Heard in the Blogosphere
Pulling Back the Curtain
Great minds in hematology shared some words of wisdom ( and some surprises !).
“ I was on the parliamentary debate team in college , [ and ] the skills I learned in debate have also been invaluable in my career as an investigator . Because of those experiences , I think I am better equipped to present my ideas and work in an articulate way – a skill I don ’ t think we spend enough time trying to inculcate in academic medicine .”
— Ross Levine , MD ( January 2017 )
“ My father ’ s cousin was a highly ranked priest of the Precious Blood order . He would come home for visits and tell great stories about the work being done in the Vatican in Rome . I was impressed by his intellect and worldliness . … Up until about seventh grade , I thought I might become a priest . Then I hit high school …”
— Michael Linenberger , MD ( March 2017 )
“[ My mother ] went back to school to finish her college degree ( my sister and I remember waiting for her in empty classrooms while she attended a lecture in the next room ), and eventually earned her PhD the same year I graduated from medical school . She taught me to stay true to my dreams . It was not an easy road for her , but she kept at it .”
— Hetty Carraway , MD , MBA ( May 2017 )
“ I can trace that decision [ to enter medicine ] to one distinct memory : I was around 5 years old when I was burned by hot water on my face , arm , and leg . I was taken to the hospital , and I stayed there for several weeks . I spent a lot of time talking with the doctors , nurses , and nurses ’ assistants , and I started thinking , ‘ This is cool .’ That ’ s when my passion for medicine began .”
— Eduardo M . Sotomayor , MD ( June 2017 )
“ I ’ ve been a [ Grateful Dead ] 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 . We ’ ve seen many different parts of the country and many different formulations of the band .”
— Brady Stein , MD ( August 2017 )
“ People ask me if my [ myeloma ] diagnosis made me a better doctor – if it made me more sympathetic to my patients . My response is , ‘ I hope not .’ I don ’ t have to drop a brick on my foot to realize that a person who comes in with a broken foot is in a lot of pain ; I hope that it didn ’ t take me developing myeloma at 59 years of age to be an empathic , caring physician .”
— Gerald A . Soff , MD ( September 2017 )
“ Pick a specialty and stick with it . Each subspecialty has become so large and truly specialized that you need to become an expert to survive these days . It ’ s important to identify what you like to work on and create your niche .”
— Brian G . M . Durie , MD ( October 2017 )
“ I would love to speak with any of the many pioneering women who stepped outside of the box they were placed in to buck the status quo . … I would ask them : When you reached deep inside yourself , what was it that you found that gave you the courage and the confidence to do what you did – despite the obstacles and resistance you encountered ? And , how can I continue what you started ?”
— Donna DiMichele , MD ( November 2017 )
pASHions
Got a hidden talent or hobby ? Don ’ t worry , we ’ ll find it – and ask for photos . This year we ’ ve talked to hematologists from around the world about what they do when they ’ re not on duty .
From David Steensma ’ s way with crosswords , to Mrinal Patnaik ’ s love of snakes , and Joseph Antin ’ s homebuilt wooden boats , we ’ ve learned that hematologists are a fascinating bunch .
Read more about the secret lives of hematologists at ashclinicalnews . org / pashions .
What are you pASHionate about ? Let us know at ashcliniclanews @ hematology . org .
Read more about the leaders and innovators in hematology at ashclinicalnews . org / pulling-back-the-curtain .
Whom should we talk to next ? Send your suggestions to ashclinicalnews @ hematology . org .
136 ASH Clinical News December 2017