One of the most memorable talks from my research year was from Vivian Cheung - she described how she worked in a lab during medical school and developed this clear idea that she wanted to be a clinician-scientist. Â During residency, she sought out a lab. Â Despite the warnings of everyone who told her it was âa bad ideaâ to do bench research during a busy residency, she did it. Â She took on all the night shifts of her co-residents and worked in the lab during the day - no sleep - and by the end of residency, she accumulated a PhDâs worth of experience.Â
Her message was clear: ALWAYS aggressively work towards your goal. Â Donât waste time, as time is your most valuable commodity. And try to get to your goal as quickly as possible.Â
So the question I ask myself is: what am I working towards? Â Itâs ok to not know, but you must be working towards something. Here are a few ideas of things to work towards outside of the path Iâm already on:
1. Entrepreneur: My father opened up his first hotel ten years after he completed fellowship. Â Despite having no âplansâ or formal training to go into business, his father, brother, and friends were all in business...it was a natural progression. Â 20 years later, it remains a major part of his life. Â As his skills and connections have improved, itâs easier and more lucrative. Â Medicine is a unique field in that it gives you a sizable amount of starting capital to work with. Â How can I move towards this? Â As I move locations, I need to learn how to evaluate real estate; rent out Chadâs room on AirBnB; become a landlord. Â
2. Immunologist: One of the most provocative ideas that the LI has is that AMD has autoimmune components - Il-17, Il-22, Il-23, complement dysfunction. Â In truth, every disease has elements of immunologic dysfunction. Â Yet, in ophthalmologist the immunology experts focus on a small subset of uveitic and transplantation-related diseases. Â There is a massive, untapped potential of investigating the immunology of glaucoma, retinal diseases, strabismus, etc. Â Why do steroids and uveitis cause glaucoma? AMD as a an autoimmune disease? Immunologic changes of DR, as it broadly relates to the immunology of diabetes? Â How can I move towards this? Â Learn to do good science. Work in the best labs. Â Volunteer myself. Â Learn attention to detail. Go to lab meetings. Dr. Bazan and Dr. Read are good places to start.Â
3. Writer: I have always enjoyed writing, but Iâve never been disciplined about it.  Well-constructed, persuasive arguments are talents Iâve honed in college, yet Iâve largely abandoned.  How can I move towards this? This blog is an attempt to start writing more frequently.  As idea flow, I will develop more coherent opinions.Â
4. Global health: First went into ophthalmology inspired by cataract camps.  Why canât I be the force that tackles world blindness?  How do I move towards this? Talk to people!! Moving towards this involves meetingsÂ
5. Consultant: A change from healthcare to larger scale interventions. This would be a great opportunity to (1) build my resume (2) make connections (3) learn skills to make large scale impacts in the health community.Â
6. Iphone app developer: See problems? Make apps (future post to come on potential apps?).  Move towards this? Make an app during my time off!
