UP FRONT
Pulling Back the Curtain
Laurie Sehn, MD
We can learn much more from the innovators and mentors in hematology and
oncology than clinical expertise. In “Pulling Back the Curtain,” we speak with hematology/oncology professionals about how they approach their leadership positions
and what advice they would give those just getting started in the field.
Laurie Sehn, MD, a medical oncologist at the BC Cancer Agency and clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia, spoke with ASH Clinical News about
the importance of prioritizing your time, being in the moment, and how a career as a
professional hockey player might have played out.
Laurie Sehn, MD, with her family
in Vancouver.
What was your first job?
My first job ever was at the
concession stand of a movie
theater. I absolutely loved it. It
combined two things that I still
love today: popcorn and movies.
The theater I worked in had only
one screen, and showed only one
movie at a time, so I had plenty of
time to actually watch the movies
between showings. The downside,
of course, was that I had to watch
the same movie again and again.
The summer I was there, the two
popular movies were Pink Floyd’s
The Wall and Poltergeist – I can’t
even count the number of times
that I’ve seen those and can still
quote all of the lines. I always speak
very fondly about that job; now my
own kids think that’s the first job
they want to have!
When did you decide you
wanted to go into medicine?
That decision goes way back, right
from the beginning of high school.
When I was in elementary school,
like most kids, I wanted to be a
teacher because I thought it was
the greatest job in the world. But as
I moved into high school, I became
more interested in the sciences but
also wanted to help people, so I
started to deviate toward the idea
of medicine. The wonderful thing
about academic medicine is that it
really does allow you to blend all of
those worlds – teaching, scientific
discovery, and patient care. I think
it really has been the perfect career
choice for me.
What was the path like to
where you are today?
It’s been challenging, but exciting
each step of the way. After finishing
medical school in Montreal, I did
my Internal Medicine residency
at Columbia in New York, mainly
because I always dreamed of living
there for a period of time.
Coming from Canada, I
experienced immediate culture
shock – both in terms of the
ASHClinicalNews.org
lifestyle and the
medical system. I
still remember my
first day at work
on July 1, when we
were told that we
wouldn’t have a
day off until midSeptember; this
would not have
been possible in
Canada. I loved
every minute of it
though, and as I
think back to that
time, I can still feel
the adrenaline rush
that I had the entire
time I was there.
Following
residency, I
went to Boston
and completed
a combined
hematologyoncology
fellowship, not only
because it offered
a strong program,
but also because
it’s a fabulous city.
While I was there, my program
directors encouraged me to obtain
a Master of Public Health degree,
which provided the necessary skills
for a career in clinical research,
as well as a new perspective for
thinking about medicine on a
population scale.
Finally, when I completed all of
my educational training, I returned
to Canada to start my first “real” job
in Vancouver, which is the one that I
have today. I feel very lucky to have
had the opportunity to live and learn
in those wonderful places. I would
strongly advise all young trainees
to take advantage of the capacity to
explore new places during your early
career, for both your personal and
professional growth.
What mentors or teachers
have had a major impact on
you and your career?
I’ve had so many mentors
over the years that it would be
impossible to name them all.
The mentors who were most
influential in my selection
of a career path as a clinical
researcher in hematology were
Joseph Antin, MD, and Robert
Soiffer, MD, at the Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute, during my
fellowship in Boston. They
patiently provided tremendous
time and guidance as I undertook
several research projects under
their direction. Their passion
for hematologic malignancies
was very obvious and hugely
influential on me.
In my current position at
the BC Cancer Agency, Joseph
Connors, MD, FRCPC, has been
my most important mentor. He
has selflessly offered advice and
guidance throughout my career,
and despite being very busy
himself, always seems to have the
time to help whenever needed.
Not only has he served as a role
model for my academic career, but
after years of casual consultations
on difficult patient cases, he has
had a strong influence on how I
care for my patients.
Is there any advice that you
would pass along to earlycareer hematologists and
oncologists?
I work with trainees at all levels
and it seems like stress levels have
escalated since I was a trainee – or
maybe I have just blocked out those
memories. The landscape seems
to have become more competitive,
with more challenges to finding
suitable academic positions or
acquiring grants. Everyone seems
to be concerned about how his or
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