Academic Medicine Open Forum

Are there any women in medicine who inspire you?
I have been fortunate to have many mentors in my career – too many to name.  Dr. Mary Ottolini, previously at Children's National and now at Maine Medical Center Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, has shaped my approach to medical education from a scholarly lens.  I have also learned from her how to be more than a mentor, but also a sponsor and partner in academic work.  My work in diversity, equity, and inclusion has been inspired mainly by life experiences and my patients, and by other women in my institution, including Drs. Aisha Barber and Denice Cora-Bramble.  The residents I am privileged to work with are a constant source of inspiration, as they are not intimidated by glass ceilings or the status quo.

What do you think is the best, most challenging, or most unique thing about working in academic medicine?
The best thing about working in academic medicine is the opportunity to contribute to progress, whether that is new knowledge through research, or personal growth through mentoring, or new skills through education.  The other side of the coin is that I enjoy being in a setting where I am constantly challenged to learn more and improve upon what we do in patient care, community-based education, and advocacy.

How do you prefer to start your day?
I start the workday by setting out my plan for the day.  I create an agenda on Evernote and make a checklist with everything I need to do for the day, by the hour.  I put in each of my meetings, then fill in the time with other things that need to happen.  I fill every hour, including when I plan to eat lunch, go through emails, pick up my kids, etc.  I also block out time to do tasks that have deadlines or that are otherwise easy to procrastinate on (like academic writing).  I find this helps me to be organized, make sure I take breaks and feel like I accomplished something at the end of the day.

How did you maintain your wellness and resilience during the pandemic? Any tips to share with others?
I have tried to find joy in the little things and to hold on to a sense of gratitude for the people and privileges I have.  With fewer scheduled events and less travel, my family and I spent more time outdoors during the pandemic.  Fresh air and nature sounds were always rejuvenating.  I also tried to stay connected with friends and family through Zoom game nights and other virtual fun.  A close friend and I started a podcast, hoping to contribute to the science-based messaging on COVID and other health topics.  With all of this, I have also tried to practice gracefully saying no to many opportunities and being strategic about what I say yes to.  If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it's to recognize that time is finite and we have to be intentional with how we prioritize this scarce resource. 

What's the weirdest food you've ever eaten?  (Can this question please be re-worded to "the most unique" food?  I don't want someone who eats these foods regularly to be considered "weird.")
One of my favorite trips was to Kenya, where we ate ostrich meatballs and crocodile meat.  Both were delicious!  I've also had grasshopper tacos, which are actually very popular at a couple of restaurants here in DC.

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